Category: The Citizen

Arusha. The government has reiterated its call for citizens to acquire formal land titles as a means of safeguarding their rights and minimizing ownership disputes.

Speaking yesterday while handing over land title deeds to members of the Police Force through the Usalama wa Raia Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (Ura Saccos), Mr Frank Mlinzikutwe, the Assistant Land Commissioner for the Arusha Region, stated that proper documentation provides legal protection for landowners in the event of conflicts. “When you possess a title deed and a dispute arises, you have a document that proves ownership, rather than just claiming the land as yours.

A title also enables you to access loans and undertake development projects,” he explained. Mr Mlinzikutwe added that title deeds create opportunities for citizens, including access to financing from financial institutions, while reducing common disputes that arise from inadequate documentation.

He encouraged the public to purchase land in planned and surveyed areas to ensure that they can be issued title deeds, which promote legal security and orderly development. “We do not want police officers to abandon their core duty of protecting the country to spend time resolving land ownership paperwork.

With proper titles, they can focus on their work and avoid being defrauded on the streets,” Mr Mlinzikutwe said. He revealed that the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Human Settlements Development has digitized the title application process, allowing citizens to apply online and, once all documents are in order, receive their title deed on the same day.

Corporal Chiunda David, the regional manager for Ura Saccos in Arusha, mentioned that the cooperative, which has over 47,000 members nationwide, signed an agreement in April with Tanzanite Crater City to assist members in purchasing surveyed plots at discounted prices. “More than 30 members have already acquired plots, and we are pleased to hand over the first batch of title deeds today,” he said.

Mr Chiunda explained that since its establishment in 2006, Ura Saccos has focused on improving the economic well-being of police officers and their families, enabling them to own properly surveyed and titled plots. Senior Superintendent of Police Alphonce Bandya, representing the Arusha Regional Police Commander and other members, expressed gratitude for the initiative.

“I am pleased to receive these title deeds on behalf of my fellow officers. In the past, it was difficult for many police officers to own property like this.

We are happy to have the opportunity to secure land and build homes,” he said. He added that members are looking forward to benefiting from future projects and pledged to encourage others to participate once more details become available.

Mr Deogratias Michael, Director of Tanzanite Crater City, noted that the project, located in Oljoro Ward of the Arusha District Council, covers more than 1,000 acres and includes plots for residential, mixed-use, commercial, and social services such as schools. He emphasized that the prices were established at affordable rates in consultation with the local authorities.

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Across the continent, a new generation is stepping into rooms their granrents couldn’t enter, but even in these spaces, many are battling an internal ceiling built long before they arrived. Despite their qualifications, creativity, and resilience, they hesitate.

They play small. They over-explain.

They undercharge. Why? Because systems taught them to associate confidence with arrogance and assertiveness with disrespect.

From colonial education models that punished questioning to gender norms that reward silence over strength, African professionals were never just underdeveloped economically; we were underestimated psychologically. In this article I aim to challenge the internalised beliefs and systemic conditioning that make us, especially the younger generation, hesitate to show up fully in professional spaces despite being qualified, creative, and more capable than ever.

I’m not just writing to motivate you; my hope is that this serves as a psychological and cultural intervention designed to spark a mindset shift, validating the lived experience of professionals navigating legacy systems of oppression and limitation. A Unesco study revealed that in many African education systems, rote learning and obedience are prioritised over critical thinking and self-expression, conditioning that stifles confidence from a young age.

According to the African Development Bank, only 23 per cent of African professionals feel empowered to make bold suggestions at work, citing fear of hierarchy and hierarchical respect norms as primary barriers. And gender plays a compounding role.

In a 2022 report by McKinsey Africa, women in African corporate settings are 30 per cent less likely to apply for stretch roles, even when qualified, due to what researchers term “internalised competence doubt.” In other words, our talent isn’t lacking; our permission to believe in it is.

Confidence is not a personality trait. It’s a skill, one that’s been systemically stripped and now must be deliberately rebuilt.

And the confidence I’m referring to doesn’t just mean being the loudest in the room. I mean trusting that your insight has value before it’s validated, especially in systems designed to keep you quiet.

If you’re ready to unlearn the hesitation and step into your boldness, here are four strategies: 1. Audit the source of your self-doubtAsk: Where did I learn to shrink? Self-doubt often comes from somewhere.

A past experience. A critical teacher.

A culture of silence. Ask yourself, where did I learn to hold back? When you identify the origin, you can begin to separate your current reality from old conditioning.

2. Practice visibility without apologySharing your ideas is not self-promotion; it’s participation.

Post your work. Speak up in meetings.

Accept compliments without deflecting them. Visibility is not about ego.

It is a signal that you take your contribution seriously. 3.

Surround yourself with expansive peopleConfidence is social. Spend time with people who see your potential and challenge you to grow.

The more you engage with bold thinkers, the more you start to believe you belong among them. 4.

Redefine boldness as a contribution, not a disruptionEvery time you speak up with insight, you’re not interrupting the system; you’re upgrading it. When you offer a new idea or challenge the status quo, you are not causing trouble.

You are creating progress. Systems don’t improve when everyone agrees.

Remember, when you reclaim boldness, you don’t just change your career; you rewrite what leadership looks like on this continent. .

Kibaha. Out of 30 participants, 10 coaches have successfully passed an internationally recognised Taekwondo coaching course.

The course, held at the Olympafrica Centre in Kibaha, Coast Region, was conducted by Jun Cheol Yoon from the World Taekwondo Federation. Dr Yoon, who also serves as the Chairman of World Taekwondo referees, said he was impressed by the steady improvement in technical skills and tactics among the coaches during the training.

“Passing or failing depends on performance, but I must commend all the coaches for their effort. Each one of them fought hard from day one, even after I warned them about the toughness of the training.

Right now, every graduate is in pain, but it is productive pain. You are not leaving here the same as you came–your technical and tactical levels have improved,” said Dr Yoon.

He added that in the first week he observed that each trainee had unique strengths that could contribute to the development of Taekwondo. Of the participants, 10 coaches managed to pass the entry-level stage of the program, which was organized by the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), sponsored by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity (OS) and coordinated by the Tanzania Taekwondo Federation (TTF).

TTF President Ramoudh Ally described the achievement as a major boost for the sport’s growth in the country. “If these 10 qualified coaches each establish a Taekwondo club in their areas and recruit 30 players, we will gain 300 new athletes.

That’s a promising start for the development of our sport,” said Ally. He encouraged the coaches to reach out to the Federation for support with training equipment if needed.

Ally said that the ultimate goal is to prepare the next generation of Taekwondo athletes capable of qualifying for the 2032 Olympic Games, through short-, medium- and long-term plans. For those who did not meet the passing grade, Ally assured that arrangements would be made for them to access additional international courses through the World Taekwondo Federation.

“We will issue an update soon, as the goal is to increase the number of certified coaches. Those who passed will be issued national coaching licenses while awaiting approval of licenses from the World Taekwondo Federation,” he said.

Closing the program, TOC Vice Chairman Henry Tandau urged the graduates to apply their knowledge for the betterment of the sport. “We must ask ourselves, where will Taekwondo be 10 years from now? If you have a vision and work towards it, such as preparing for the 2032 Olympics, you can achieve it,” he said.

Tandau, however, cautioned that the success of only 10 coaches is not enough. He urged them to pursue higher levels of qualification.

“You must be ambitious. Whenever I attend major tournaments, I don’t see many Tanzanian coaches or referees.

We must organize ourselves. Without proper planning, you cannot progress,” he stressed.

One of the graduates, Janeth Oscar from Dar es Salaam, expressed appreciation for the training program, which was delivered by Grandmaster Yoon alongside Master David Samson. “The program was transformative.

We will put the skills we have gained into practice, although Taekwondo still faces challenges such as a shortage of equipment and lack of modern training halls,” she said. During the course, Dr.

Yoon highlighted Rashid Yahaya Rashid as a coach who displayed exceptional performance. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s creative economy is undergoing a major transformation, with barbers, hairdressers, photographers, graphic designers, painters and other creative professionals now required to register with the National Arts Council (Basata) in order to operate legally.

The new directive follows revised Basata regulations published in the Government Gazette on June 30, 2025. The move marks a historic step in formally recognising and regulating sectors that have long operated informally, signalling a shift towards a more structured and inclusive creative industry. As part of the reforms, Basata has halved its entry fees, reducing the registration cost from S0,000 to Sh20,000, with an annual renewal fee set at Sh10,000. The council said the changes are designed to bring creatives closer to government support systems and enable them to access opportunities such as funding from the national arts fund.

“Our aim is not to be their dream killers,” the council said in a statement that responded to questions from The Citizen. “Our goal is to bring them closer to government so they can access opportunities such as funding from the national arts fund,” it added.

The council’s mandate now covers three broad categories: music, performing arts, and creative arts. Creative arts now formally include barbering, hairdressing, photography, painting, and graphic design — with Basata describing even salon services as a form of fashion innovation.

“Today if you go to a salon and get a new hairstyle, the barber has used creativity. Or if you go bald and they fix artificial hair on your head, that is also creativity at work,” Basata explained.

Officials said formalising the sector would not only ensure recognition but also strengthen its contribution to the economy through job creation. “Many successful artists have been able to provide employment to others, where you find an artist with a lawyer, an accountant, and other people managing their work.

If all these people depend on one artist, it means jobs are being created,” the council said. Industry reaction The reforms have sparked mixed reactions among practitioners.

While many see the changes as a sign of progress, they also warn that low awareness could hinder compliance. Avila Chaula, widely known as Allie Stylist and a member of the Tanzania Hairdressers’ Association, welcomed the reforms and said they provide new opportunities.

“Hairdressing is now officially under Basata’s oversight, and they have become mentors for us. However, many stylists still don’t know about these requirements,” she said.

Ms Chaula stressed that registration is required for every stylist, not just salon owners, and added that being registered opens doors internationally. “Once registered, it’s much easier to get visas and permits for international work.

If I want to travel to China or the U.S.

for a job, being formally recognised by Basata makes the process smoother,” she explained. For barbers, the regulations are entirely new but are seen as a potential avenue for financial empowerment.

“I have been a barber for several years now, and I have never come across such a requirement. But if the government has created a good system to recognise us and enable us to access loans, then I think this will be a good move that will help lift us up when we face difficulties,” said Mr Dulla Hamadi, a barber from Sinza.

Hairdresser Habiba Mohammed of Kijitonyama echoed similar views, saying that registration will be meaningful only if it leads to tangible benefits. “If the Council recognises me and I can access loans, then that will be a very positive step,” she said.

Wider implications Basata clarified that even media houses must register if they engage in organising artistic events such as shows or festivals, except for film-related activities which remain under the Tanzania Film Board. The council acknowledged complaints from salon owners whose businesses have been closed in the past, explaining that such enforcement actions usually result from joint operations with agencies such as the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (Brela).

Industry observers say the reforms have the potential to activate a largely informal sector, broaden its tax contribution, and give it a stronger voice in national economic planning — but only if awareness campaigns reach practitioners countrywide. “With these reforms, we have made some inactive artists active again, so that they too can empower themselves.

This is part of ensuring that these sectors are respected just like music and other arts,” the council said. .

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland champions Young Africans (Yanga) continued their strong start to the season with a 2-0 home victory over Angola’s Wiliete Benguela, securing progression to the next round of the CAF Champions League with a commanding 5-0 aggregate score.

Yanga head coach Romain Folz praised the consistency and reliability of his core squad, noting that their performance across competitions has been crucial to the team’s success. “We have a strong and reliable squad.

These players have delivered results match after match, and their consistency gives us a solid foundation to compete at the highest level,” said Folz. He also addressed the challenge of balancing squad rotation with maintaining performance.

“We rotate where necessary, but keeping a rhythm is important. Our core players have proven their quality, and the rest are developing alongside them,” he added.

In the second-leg clash at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Pacome Zouzoua once again stole the spotlight, opening the scoring with a brilliant display of skill. Aziz Andabwile added the second goal, cementing Yanga’s dominance over the Angolan side.

Folz singled out Pacome for his tactical intelligence and ability to unsettle defenders. “Players like him give us a real advantage, both domestically and in continental competitions,” he said.

This season, across four competitive matches–including the Community Shield win over Simba (1-0), the CAF Champions League first-leg victory in Angola (3-0), the Mainland Tanzania Premier League opener against Pamba Jiji (3-0), and the recent second-leg win over Wiliete (2-0)–Folz has relied heavily on a core group of players. Overall, Yanga’s scoring form have been impressive.

The team opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Bandari FC of Kenya during Mwananchi Day, followed by the Community Shield triumph over Simba. They went on to defeat Pamba Jiji 3-0 in the Mainland Tanzania Premier League and later eliminated Wiliete Benguela with a 5-0 goal aggregate.

Folz’s focus remains on leveraging squad consistency and tactical intelligence to maintain momentum across both domestic and continental competitions. “Every match teaches us something.

Our discipline, depth, and the quality of our players are what will help Yanga continue to grow,” he said. .

Dodoma. The government has announced new amendments to the Mining (Local Content) Regulations aimed at strengthening the participation of indigenous Tanzanian companies and financial institutions in the country’s mining sector.

Published under Government Notice No. 563 of September 12, 2025, the amendments introduce stricter requirements for foreign companies, new compliance timelines, and additional sub-plans for local content reporting.

One of the most significant changes is the requirement for non-indigenous companies seeking to supply goods or services to mining contractors, subcontractors, licensees, or the State Mining Corporation to form joint ventures with local firms. These joint ventures must include an indigenous Tanzanian company that is 100 percent citizen-owned and operating in the same line of business.

According to the notice the local partner is required to hold at least 20 percent equity, unless the goods and services fall under an exemption which is set to be published separately. The regulations also introduce a new provision requiring the Mining Commission to publish, in the Gazette and other platforms, a list of goods and services that must be supplied exclusively by Tanzanian-owned firms.

Further, the amendments expand the scope of local content plans. Companies must now include both a banking services sub-plan and a procurement sub-plan in their submissions.

In addition, if the Mining Commission fails to respond to a revised local content plan within 50 working days, the plan will be deemed automatically approved. The updated framework also redefines thresholds for sole-sourced contracts.

Any mining-related contract valued at more than the equivalent of $10,000 will now require stricter scrutiny and compliance with local content rules. Other technical adjustments include revisions to prequalification requirements for bidders, clarification of reporting obligations, and the inclusion of the Director of the Mineral Audit and Trading Department in the oversight framework.

The notice which was signed by Minister for Minerals, Mr Anthony Mavunde aims at reforms that are intended to deepen local participation, build capacity among Tanzanian companies, and ensure the country benefits more equitably from its mineral wealth. The move comes as Tanzania continues to tighten its mining sector governance, balancing efforts to attract foreign investment with a push to maximize local benefits from the country’s vast mineral resources.

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Zanzibar. In politics, rivalry does not always mean hostility.

One may admire an opponent, respect their leadership and even acknowledge their achievements, yet still step forward to challenge them. For Said Soud Said, chairman of the Alliance for African Farmers Party (AAFP), this is the essence of democracy.

He insists that his 2025 presidential bid in Zanzibar is not driven by enmity but by the spirit of competition. Said has declared his candidacy against incumbent President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, whose leadership he openly praises, especially for strides in infrastructure development and democratic governance.

Yet, he believes Zanzibar deserves more and he promises to accelerate progress while tackling unique social and economic issues. Among his most unusual campaign pledges is a vow to outlaw 66 beds, which he blames for declining birth rates in the Isles.

Respect for Mwinyi, but ready to compete Speaking after receiving his endorsement from the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), Said said that his candidacy is serious and that he is confident of victory. However, he made it clear that should President Mwinyi win, it will still be a legitimate outcome.

“Dr Mwinyi has done well and Zanzibaris trust him. But I believe I can build on his successes and do it with more speed,” Said said.

This is not Said’s first attempt at the presidency. He contested in 2010, 2015 and 2020, building a reputation as one of Zanzibar’s most persistent politicians.

His long career has been marked by shifts in party allegiance, bold statements and controversial policies, which have kept him in the spotlight. Political journey through different parties Said’s political path began in the mid-1990s.

He first joined the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) in 1996, running unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in Wawi constituency in 2000. In 2003, he moved to the Democratic Party (DP), where he became the running mate of the late Rev Christopher Mtikila in the 2005 Union presidential election. In 2009, he founded the Alliance for Farmers Party of Tanzania (AAFP), which he has chaired since.

Through this platform, he has consistently championed the interests of farmers, arguing that agriculture remains the backbone of Zanzibar’s economy. He insists that if farmers thrive, the Isles will prosper.

Beyond party politics, Said has held notable positions in government. He once served as a nominated member of the Zanzibar House of Representatives under former President Ali Mohamed Shein.

After the disputed 2015 elections and the subsequent 2016 repeat poll boycotted by the opposition, Said was appointed to the Revolutionary Council as a Minister without Portfolio. This appointment earned him criticism from some quarters, with detractors labelling him a “puppet”.

He dismisses the accusations as baseless, saying his loyalty has always been to the people, not to any single political figure. Early life and background Born on May 12, 1949 in Kiuyu, Bikirembo, Pemba, Said grew up in a modest farming family.

He is the third of five children. His early years were shaped by the aftermath of the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution, which introduced free education.

He did not enter school until the age of 16, completing his primary education in 1972 before pursuing Islamic studies. From a young age, he was politically active, first as a member of the Afro Shiraz Party (ASP) youth wing.

When ASP merged with TANU in 1977 to form Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Said became one of its early members and later held leadership roles at the district level. Though once a staunch CCM supporter, he grew disillusioned in the 1990s, arguing that the party had lost touch with farmers’ needs.

This prompted his eventual shift to the opposition. On opposition politics and democracy Said has strong views on the role of the opposition in Tanzania’s democracy.

He argues that genuine opposition requires not just criticising the ruling party but also accepting electoral defeat when it occurs. He cites the Civic United Front’s (CUF) rejection of the 1995 election results as an example of what he considers poor democratic practice.

For him, the legitimacy of opposition parties lies in their willingness to compete fairly and respect outcomes. Agenda for 2025 While Said’s manifesto includes promises to speed up development and expand opportunities for farmers, what has attracted the most attention is his unconventional social agenda.

He claims that the widespread adoption of 66 beds in Zanzibar has contributed to declining birth rates. According to him, the large beds reduce intimacy and discourage larger families.

“In the past, when people used 46 beds, families were bigger and Zanzibar’s population was growing steadily. Now, 66 beds are everywhere and our birth rate is falling.

If elected, I will ban these beds. The largest size allowed will be 46,” he declared.

Though critics have dismissed this pledge as outlandish, Said insists it reflects his concern for Zanzibar’s future demographic and economic stability. He argues that without population growth, the Isles risk losing their economic vitality and cultural vibrancy.

Champion of farmers True to his party’s name, Said continues to position himself as the voice of farmers. He has promised policies to improve access to markets, affordable inputs and modern technology.

He also advocates for greater investment in irrigation and storage facilities, aiming to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise food prices. He argues that empowering farmers will also reduce youth unemployment, as agriculture can provide meaningful livelihoods if well supported.

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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s U-20 women’s national team, the Tanzanite Queens, continued their impressive run in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a 2-0 away victory over Angola last Saturday.

The result secured them a spot in the third round with a commanding 6-0 aggregate score. Although the win underlined their dominance, head coach Bakari Shime and his technical bench admitted that the encounter was a learning experience, revealing weaknesses that must be addressed if the team is to remain competitive in the tournament.

“It was a good match for us and one that gives us a clearer picture of how to prepare for the next challenge,” said Shime. “We made several mistakes across all departments–defense, midfield and attack.

We have a lot of work to do, but I believe that with better preparation time ahead of the next game, we will perform even better.” Shime stressed the importance of self-assessment and internal improvement rather than focusing solely on future opponents.

“Our biggest task is to examine ourselves and identify the specific shortcomings that need fixing. Once we strengthen our own game, it will not matter who we face.

At our best, we can handle any team that comes our way.” The Tanzanite Queens will now prepare to meet the winner between Kenya and Ethiopia, who faced off yesterday evening in Nairobi.

That match will determine Tanzania’s third-round opponent in what is expected to be a more demanding test. Shime added that his side’s success should not mask the need for consistent growth.

He said that continuous development will be crucial not only for the current qualifiers but also for the broader ambition of building a strong women’s football foundation in Tanzania. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will be staged in Poland from September 6 to 27 next year, bringing together 24 of the world’s best teams.

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Dar es Salaam. Vodacom Tanzania has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) to expand access to paediatric heart care.

The agreement was signed by the telcom firm through its charity arm Vodacom Foundation Tanzania, and the Heart Team Africa Foundation, a specialised foundation under the JKCI. The two organisations described the initiative as a milestone in the fight against paediatric heart disease in Tanzania.

The signing ceremony at JKCI coincided with World Heart Day 2025, held under the theme “Don’t Miss a Beat”, a global call to prioritise heart health through early detection and lifestyle change. Under the MoU, Vodacom Tanzania Foundation will be contributing some cost in providing paediatric cardiac heart care.

According to a recent study conducted by Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania, an estimated two out of every 100 children are born with congenital heart disease (CHD), and three percent of children aged 515 suffer from rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a preventable condition caused by untreated throat infections. Each year, more than 4,000 children require surgery, according to the study, yet access to care remains limited.

Although the Government subsidizes 70 percent of costs, the remaining 30 percent is still unaffordable for many families in dire need. JKCI currently has over 350 children on its waiting list for surgery.

Speaking on the gravity of the issue, JKCI executive director, Dr Peter Kisenge, emphasised the urgency. “Behind every statistic is a child with dreams and parents with hope.

This partnership will help us close the gap between need and access, ensuring that more children live to see a healthy future,” he said. Heart Team Africa Foundation chief executive officer and paediatric cardiologist, Dr Naizihijwa Majani, said the cost of treatment can stand between a child and their future.

“This partnership with Vodacom and JKCI is more than financial support; it is a lifeline. Together, we are building a Tanzania where no parent has to choose between poverty and their child’s heartbeat,” he said.

Earlier this year, Vodacom Tanzania Foundation launched the Amini Initiative in Zanzibar, pledging to sponsor 150 children by covering the remaining 30 percent of treatment costs. So far, 38 children, ranging from two months to 14 years old, have already received successful surgeries.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vodacom Tanzania chief executive officer, Mr Philip Besiimire, said the MoU is about turning belief into action through the Amini Initiative. “Together with JKCI, we are opening the door to a future where no child’s life is cut short due to lack of access to life-changing medical interventions, but instead given the chance to heal, to hope, and to thrive,” he said.

Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, JKCI, and Heart Team Africa Foundation are calling on partners, donors, and stakeholders to join forces in the lifesaving mission. .

In education as a whole, strategy plays an unimaginably significant role. This entails strategy not only in teaching but also in the entire process of adjudging the needs, discerning educational topics and materials, in the delivery process, and in the receiving process on the side of learners.

The educational cycle feeds itself and builds on the work done in the preceding cycle. The educational needs are the societal problems, the gaps needing solution; yet to attain these, a certain amount of groundwork is needed as a foundation; hence, we have curricula to guide the whole formal process.

The delivery of knowledge to learners is not the final stage of the process, nor are the grades the learners get. After learning, there is assessment, constructive feedback, reflection, application (in context), and adaptation of the content and the preparation process.

Educationists call this the teaching and learning cycle. Despising an appropriate strategy in any of these sections irreparably affects the productivity of the whole chain, regardless of the quality of work or output in the unaffected sections of the chain.

As such, we can say that education is, by its very form, content, and function, ‘a chain reaction’, contingent on the indispensable interdependence of all players in the process. For most learners, being educated at school is about memorising.

Why? Because that is how the system orients them to see education. Most learners view schooling as a reward system and themselves as heroes, depending on how high up the reward ladder they are ranked.

One is not considered smart, creative, or intelligent unless the grading system says so! All creativity and innovativeness have to be shrunk to fit into the demands of the spoon-feeding system, which, unfortunately, kills many dreams and talents. The question is whether learners are taught how to learn.

We cannot just presume that people, especially young people, know how to learn academically. Learning goes beyond reading and understanding books.

Learning is a process of integration, like putting together puzzle pieces until the whole picture makes sense. True learning sparks curiosity and stimulates the desire to keep exploring.

This is only possible if learners are helped to first discover their areas of interest, not just their areas of performance. A child may perform better in a subject they have no interest in simply because they like the teacher, but that interest evaporates when the teacher is changed.

The most outstanding ground for one’s interest is what they naturally feel curious about. There is no harm in exposing them to many options before making them express freely what they like to engage in, mostly in academics.

A learning process that does not involve the learner’s consent and feelings has a higher chance of achieving little or nothing by either producing uninterested experts who only do their jobs to earn a living, as what they do was never their passion. Teaching children how to learn helps them identify their interests and preferred learning styles, enabling them to become the best versions of themselves.

If the goal of education is to make people the best versions of themselves, then these considerations are of paramount importance. It is equally important to consider that times have changed, even if much of what is taught remains the same.

Worth considering is the fact that globally, the education system is handling young people who have a very different exposure, given the facility of technology, demographics, labour market demands and dynamics, and the fast-paced globalisation, among others. These factors affect the way they view education and its entire process, and even the questions they ask are different compared to questions asked by learners of the same levels 30 years ago.

The sooner we come to terms with this fact and are considerate of their worldview, the better chance we have of making education functionally relevant to them. The education system should be a means of transformation, not just a pipeline where people pass through with changed credentials yet remain untransformed.

In Tanzania, where 77 per cent of the population (about 47.5 million people) is under 35, education is the best legacy we can give them and the next generations, especially considering that the majority of the nationals are marginally represented in the national policy-making roundtables. This group is by far a ‘surviving’ group, with most of them not having life figured out due to unemployment and other systemic shortcomings beyond their control.

It is a testimony to poor planning, given that statistics obtained every year could have been used for comprehensive predictions and plans in anticipation of the problems we have now. If this had been done, we would be much further than we are, as we have a surplus of workforce in the young people of this nation.

To improve the quality of our education, we need well-articulated strategies which prioritise the role of learners, not just instructors. Shimbo Pastory is an advocate for positive social transformation and a student of the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines.

Website: “underlinewww.shimbopastory.

com .