A philosopher predicts a bleak future on Tanzania education system

A renowned philosopher has predicted that, Tanzania will continue loosing more intellectuals in future on certain professional disciplines of the country’s main economic developments due to poorly designed education system in the country. Speaking in an exclusive interview yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Dr. Jason Ishengoma of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) said that, the practice of education system in the country drives most school candidates into cramming theories and it doesn’t prepare them have a critical mindset of thinking about the future. He gave specific examples as related to field works which he noted that, most students are not performing well but are in good in theoretical work to which are basically specialized on cramming. He said with the current education system, prospective students are not taught to become more innovative and creative enough so that, on completion of their studies should they be in a position of employing themselves instead of being dependent and wait for the government’s employment opportunities. Dr. Ishengoma who is a senior lecturer of philosophy and religious studies at the university expressed his dismay over the education system in the country and noted that, it’s the government which is the main cause of all these problems. However, he said adding that, if the government will not alter the system will face hardship in future as the current educational system is not enough to provide adequate philosophical knowledge required. He said teachings must begin at home at a tender age so as to give a proper directive to children to have a dependent life which would bring them up and parents should also be strict. He also noted that, children should not be made to think by using other people’s language. Dr. Ishengoma is on the view of the fact that, for someone to have a critical thinking must have mastered a particular language of use. Unlike in Tanzania, Kiswahili is commonly used as a dominant business language used for all communication, but English is taught as a subject and rarely used in official matters this is an aspect that, most Tanzanians fails to communicate themselves globally. Dr. Ishengoma made a concern when met by this reporter during the official launching ceremony of a network known as ‘Your uniqueness is your capital’ initiated by a Dar es Salaam based NGO known as Registered Trustees of the Community Development Services (RTCDS). The network brings together people of all walks of life in the country with a common stand to think of various ways on how to curb with various challenges affecting their daily life. The major obstacles in this aspect includes the fight over grand corruption, illicit drug trafficking, poaching on wildlife, unemployment and other forms of economic sabotage.