The Open University of Tanzania to establish electronic media stations

STUDENTS pursuing Journalism and Mass Communication degree programs at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), will now have time to do their electronic field practice with ease following plans which are underway by the OUT to establish a radio and television stations of their own. It was disclosed last week at Bungo- Kibaha. The move is in line with the university’s strategic future plans discussed for 2011/2012 academic year which together with other university’s projects, the establishment of these two electronic media stations have been considered. OUT’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Tolly Mbwette said last week when addressing the prospective graduants during annual convocation meeting of the Open University of Tanzania which was held at a permanent OUT headquarter at Bungo-Kibaha located 40 miles away west from the city of Dar es Salaam. According to him, his university will establish a radio station in a place to be identified later within three to four months’ time, and later would be followed by a television which will be established in two years to come. However, he said in an exclusive interview after his meeting that, television is more expensive and would require long term planning. Apart from their normal roles of disseminating news as well as other programs to a mass audience in the country, the stations will also serve as a training centre by inviting students from other institutions pursuing journalism and mass communication studies in the country.

Seated in a jovial mood front row are four grandaunts of Journalism and Mass Communication degrees. This was during the 23rd graduation ceremony of the Open University of Tanzania. I was one of them waiting to be conferred with our degrees. From left to right are Mwanzo Milinga (MC), Evelen Eugene (MC) Emmanuel Onyango (Journalism) and Ikunda Erick (Journalism). Two of our fellows graduated in absentia.

The annual convocation meeting which is normally held ahead of the graduation day by the university aims at discussing some of the problems and challenges faced by the university. The meeting also highlights future development plans laid down by the university for the coming academic year. A day after the convocation meeting, the Open University of Tanzania held its 23rd graduation which was graced by the Vice-President Mohammed Bilal as the guest of honour. According to Professor Mbwette, it was the first time for the graduation of the Open University of Tanzania to have been graced by the top government official in the country since its establishment 19 years ago. A total of 2,531 graduants were conferred with certificates, diplomas, and degrees. The degrees were given to graduates who pursued undergraduate, masters and PhD degree program levels. A total of 11,381 people have been conferred by the OUT University since its establishment way back in 1994.

I was among the top 17 best students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I have scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate, Professor Samwel Wangwe.. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly seen is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.


When outlining the development of a permanently expected headquarters of the Open University, Professor Mbwette said, a total of Tsh. 400 billion is needed to complete the construction of all the designed buildings at the maim campus whose architectural drawings are in place. Either he noted that, there were so many challenges Open University is facing from the national leaders whom he described to have not taken an active part to advertise the presence of the university in their regions despite of the fact that, open University has opened its regional centres in all regions in the country. Analyzing a detailed report of the development of the expected Open University headquarters, the Chairman of the Board of the University senate, Professor Samwel Wangwe said that, only two buildings which have been constructed so far, these are an office block at the entrance and a book store within the yard which covers approximately 40,000 acres of land.

This is how I looked like during the 23rd graduation ceremony of the Open University of Tanzania. A day has come and I have a reason to smile for what I had been waiting for in my life is now around the corner. How proud is it if someone recognizes you as a degree holder? How do you feel by having this academic achievement? It is really fascinating as it paves the way for one to proceed with another.


He has challenged the main stakeholders of the higher learning institutions from the Ministry of Education in the country to dish out money to help develop some regional centres which are now all over the country. Other challenges he noted are that, the Open University has been assigning outside tutors to run with the teaching exercises and provides teaching materials for students, but lack of money has been an exacerbating issue. He has therefore asked the government to set aside money in its next financial budget in order to subsidize for the payment of part time teachers who are hired from other universities to do the job. Despite of running with these disparities, the Vice-President assured the management of the Open University that, he would take to task all the problems mentioned before him, and promised to give a full support wherever appropriate and necessary. Going on its 20th year of its existence next year, another challenge the University is faced with is the shortage of lecturers as this is an issue affecting most government higher learning institutions in the country. In return, the Vice-President has asked the management of the University to liase with the Ministry’s officials in the country in order to ward off the existing phenomenon