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Women engineers outline challenges
What you need to know:
- Analysts say as the nation strives for progress and development, it is essential to break down the barriers preventing women from fully participating in the engineering profession.
Unguja. Women engineers have outlined the challenges they face, which hinder their work efficiency, despite government efforts to increase their numbers.
Ms Rehana Juma, the chairperson of the Institution of Engineers Tanzania-Women Chapter (IET-WC), raised the concerns yesterday during the eighth Tanzania Women Engineers Convention and Exhibitions, which was inaugurated by Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi.
Among the challenges highlighted were prejudices surrounding pregnancy and motherhood, suggesting that women engineers may not perform optimally during such periods.
Additionally, sexual harassment in workplaces was identified as a prevalent issue.
Ms Rehana also pointed out that in some sectors, women are unjustly considered unsuitable for fieldwork and are confined to office roles.
“We ask that this be looked at properly to ensure there is equality in employment regardless of gender,” she noted, emphasizing that women engineers have successfully executed various projects with great professionalism.
Addressing the symposium, President Mwinyi assured women professionals of the government’s support for girl students pursuing STEM subjects in secondary schools, vocational training colleges, and universities.
He emphasized that this initiative aims to increase the number of women engineers in the country.
Dr Gemma Modu, the president of the Institution of Women Engineers Tanzania, highlighted the significant gender gap in various development activities.
Tanzania currently has 35,000 engineers, with only 4,633 being women equivalent to 13.2 percent, according to Ambassador Aisha Amour, the Permanent Secretary of Zanzibar’s Ministry of Transport, who represented the Union government’s minister for Works and Transport Prof Makame Mbarawa.
Dr Modu further revealed that only 33 percent of all engineers are registered at the Engineers’ Registration Board. The IET has 4000 members, out of which only 300 are women, accounting for a mere seven percent.
Acknowledging the contributions made by women engineers, Mr Victor Seff, the chief executive officer of the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (Tarura), commended the Agency’s female engineers, who make up three percent of their workforce, out of over 400 engineers.
In response to the challenges faced by women engineers, President Mwinyi vowed to create strategies to increase the number of engineers, particularly women, in Tanzania, acknowledging the importance of a diverse and inclusive engineering workforce.
Analysts say as the nation strives for progress and development, it is essential to break down the barriers preventing women from fully participating in the engineering profession.
Addressing misconceptions and prejudices, creating equal employment opportunities, and supporting women in STEM education are crucial steps towards achieving gender equality in the engineering sector.
They say with concerted efforts and support from both the government and industry stakeholders, Tanzania can foster an inclusive environment.
