No one will join university through cheating-TCU

In the next few months after the form six examination results come out, the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) will select students who will join various universities in the country. Our Staff Writer PROSPER MAKENE interviewed TCU’s Executive Secretary Prof. Sifuni Mchome on the selection process and how TCU plans to deal with academic cheaters who use fake certificates when applying for admission into higher education institutions. Excerpts:

QUESTION: What is TCU doing to ensure the admission process goes well?

ANSWER: In order to ensure the upcoming admission is well organised, TCU plans to strengthen its human resource and capacity building. TCU together with the Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB),  the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE), the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA), and the higher education institutions are working together to ensure the upcoming admission of students into higher learning institutions goes well.

TCU, NACTE and NECTA have ensured that all form six and diploma academic results are captured to enable all applicants apply through the Central Admission System (CAS) without encountering problems.

Also TCU has requested NECTA to establish a database of applicants who are holding foreign certificates so as to capture their results directly from NECTA in order to increase awareness of applicants and the public at large on how to use CAS during registration and application processes.

Q. How does TCU plan to deal with those who apply for admission using fake certificates?

A. Through the CAS there is no cheating as the results are captured directly from NECTA and NACTE databases. Therefore we expect no one will join university through cheating.

Q. Any achievements made since you introduced the CAS system?

A. We have achieved a lot through this system. With CAS, an applicant is able to apply for admission into more than one institution at once, hence reducing application costs, time spent and the cost for travelling to different institutions where admission is sought.

CAS has addressed challenges related to forgery of certificates during the application process since all applications are lodged online and the examination results for each applicant are directly accessed from the NECTA and NACTE databases.

With the use of CAS, it has been possible to determine the actual admission capacity of each institution. For the first time in the history of Tanzania, almost all eligible applicants were admitted into higher education institutions. CAS has managed to control multiple admissions as the system allocates the applicant to only one programme out of the many chosen programmes.

The system generates important data for use by researchers, policy makers and decision makers. It also has managed to notify applicants who do not qualify in the early stage of the application process.

Q. How does the Foreign Awards Assessment System (FAAS) recognise foreign academic awards? Any challenges concerning this system?

A. Any one who wants their foreign awards to be recognised has to apply electronically directly to TCU's Foreign Awards Assessment System (FAAS).

They do so by opening an electronic account in TCU website and uploading different documents which allow the assessment to take place.

Apart from the copy of the certificate/degree award, they have to upload the respective transcript, their recent photo, form four and six NACTE certificates OR their equivalent, course curriculum, an admission letter and pages of the passport showing their particulars and entry visa to the country they were studying.

All of these are to be certified by an advocate/an officer of law. They also have to scan and upload the bank pay in slip to show they have paid the necessary fee for that evaluation.

After submitting these, TCU staff checks for the completeness of the application and if satisfied that the critical information is there, the applicant is given a date on which they can collect their evaluation certificate (for Tanzanians) and letters (for foreigners).

In collecting their evaluation, they have to bring with them the original documents they have uploaded, for verification.

As for the challenges encountered, they include incomplete information - sometimes the applicants do not have in hand sufficient information to do the evaluation.

They may miss form four or form six certificates on which they need to go to NECTA and process a result slip which is normally sent directly to TCU. Some do not have degree transcripts or have a crude handwritten provisional degree certificate.

Meanwhile, some applicants scan their documents such that they have very high bytes and therefore cannot be uploaded and in some cases applicants are missing the pre-requisite to join degree level training or they cannot clearly explain their path into the degree program.

In a few cases we do set-up interviews with the applicants to verify some of the queries. That takes time and has cost implications. Another challenge is that there a few applicants who either do not know or find it difficult to do the online application. We guide them on how to do so.

Q. How many students will be enrolled in higher learning institutions in the 2013/2014 academic year?

A. TCU and NACTE institutions have the capacity to enroll 60,000 students per year in 69 higher education institutions. However, given the potential pool of applicants, it is projected that the 2013/2014 admission will be about 50,000.

Q. Any future plans?

A. In future, TCU plans to process admission of postgraduate applicants through CAS.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Tanesco threatens to terminate contract with pole suppliers

Tanzania  Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has given a 40-day ultimatum to two companies contracted to supply electric poles to do so beginning early next month or else the power utility would terminate their contracts.

The two companies are Mufindi Wood Poles, which was contracted to supply 821 poles in mid April and Critical Engineering Solutions Construction Company Limited, which was to supply 1,922 electric poles.

The ultimatum follows increased demand for poles from hundreds of customers waiting for the service since January this year.

Tanesco Public Relation Manager Badra Masoud admitted that her organisation faces a critical shortage of electric poles to match with customer demand for power connection.

She said another factor which has also contributed to shortage of poles was the failure by Artumas Energy Tanzania Limied to meet its contractual obligations of supplying power to Lindi and Mtwara regions.

“This has forced Tanesco to allocate more poles to the two regions for implementation of the project,” she said.

 “The 40-day ultimatum will start next month.  If the two companies failure to honour their agreement we’ll announce a new tender,” Masoud said.

She, however, said that three other companies from Tanzania and South Africa have confirmed to bring poles by early next month. The poles will be distributed to six regions.

“All regions will be distributed with electric poles but the distribution process depends on who applied first,” she noted.

She named the three firms as Rousant International   which will supply 7,514 and Maghilika Timber Company – 1,100 poles both from South Africa and Sao Hill which will supply 6,358 poles.   

Last month, Tanesco said it was facing a critical shortage of poles which hampers accessing electricity to its customers.

Some Musoma residents complained to have applied for power connection since January this year but until yesterday the service was not extended to them.

According to Masoud, Tanesco has also ordered electric poles from South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The number of customers who have applied for power connection has increased following government’s announcement in December last year of lowering connection charges.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Government yet to pay teachers 52bn/- in salary arrears,say TTU

Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) has disapproved of government claims made in Parliament that 52bn/- have been paid to teachers as salary arrears, saying the matter is still under discussion.

The union urged the government to hasten the process of responding to its demands or else teachers will resort to strike.

“We’ve a document from the President’s Office (Public Service Management) Permanent Secretary showing that there are no payments made to teachers as stated by the minister,” TTU president Gratian Mukoba said.

He gave this clarification in Dar es Salaam yesterday when talking to reporters over the issue.

He said government owes the teachers 22bn/- as other allowances while 30bn/- are for salary arrears.

He claimed that the government was trying to weaken the issue in the eyes of the public to undermine teachers’ faith to their organization.

“TTU and the government are still in negotiations over the matter and no agreement has been reached,” he explained.

Mukoba accused the government of being indifferent in honouring teachers’ demands.

TTU has lodged its complaints in court to seek justice, a process which the government says, is a wrong path towards reaching amicable solution.

 “According to a letter dated February 22, 2013 from the Attorney General with reference AGCC/A130/17, although there is a case in court, negotiations ought to continue in good faith,” Mukoba quoted the letter as saying.

He said the government is forcing teachers to go on strike, adding that “we’re not scared to do so for our own benefit.”

“TTU is ready to negotiate with the government in a move aimed at strengthening the education sector,” Mukoba said.

On Wednesday, Education and Vocational Training minister Dr Shukuru Kawambwa told the Parliament that the government had paid 52bn/- as salary arrears to teachers in primary and secondary schools.

He was responding to a supplementary question by Christowaja Mtinda (Special Seats, Chadema) who had said government has failed to pay 27bn/- owed to primary and secondary school teachers.

In addition, the lawmaker had queried on the whereabouts of 500,000/- approved by the House last year as hardship allowance for teachers working in rural areas.

The MP had claimed that the money was spent on other activities in the ministry instead of being paid to teachers.

Responding, the minister said “until January this year, the government had already paid salary arrears it owed teachers.”

He, however, said that following an evaluation undertaken by TTU and the government, it was discovered that the latter had a debt amounting to 52bn/- instead of the previous 29bn/-.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

NEMC suspends services at Dar’s biggest abattoir

The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has suspended animal slaughtering services at Dar es Salaam’s biggest abattoir located at Ukonga Mazizini on environmental and health grounds.

The order was issued yesterday, after a team from the national environment watchdog conducted a surprise inspection inside and outside the facility where it found that the liquid waste discharge system of was in quandary.

“After a thorough inspection of your abattoir, we have realised that you have failed to discharge liquid waste in a proper manner and this, in terms health and environmental standards, is unacceptable,” Lucy Lugusha, team leader from NEMC told the abattoir owner, Philemon Mbereko.

The environment senior officer also said: “We have come to the decision of closing down your abattoir and stop all operations as from today (yesterday) and we will submit to you the order in writing.”

Another NEMC senior environment officer, Jafar Chimgege told the owner of the abattoir to explain efforts he had made to address the complaints taken to his office by people residing in the area regarding the waste water discharged from his facility and channelled to a nearby water stream.

“I don’t remember the terms we agreed to work on, however I know little on environmental management so I am willing to receive advice from you on how I can improve the standards of my facility,” Mbereko replied.

According to him, more than 300 cows are slaughtered daily, whereby 450,000/- is issued as service fee.

Ilala Municipal Authority collects 600,000/- as levy and the veterinarian from Livestock and Fisheries ministry takes another 150,000/-.

In December 2010 former Livestock and Fisheries Development minister Dr Mathayo David directed Ilala municipal authorities to ensure that infrastructure at the Vingunguti located abattoir is fixed and the environment is improved as required by public health laws.

He wondered why the municipal authorities had failed to put in place necessary installations while the abattoir with the capacity to slaughter 300 cattle a day generates more than 20m/- a month.

The minister had also ordered that a standby generator be procured to pump water from a borehole during power rationing period.

He had also said that the DED must ensure offloaders are purchased to supplement the existing four to bring about efficiency and save time for meat supplying traders.

The minister had also ordered that toilets be immediately constructed, saying, “This place is visited by more than 2,000 people daily, but it has no toilets to serve them.”

He had pointed out that health officers should wake up and execute their duties professionally with more zeal, speed and strength.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

US, China send JK messages on Union day celebrations

President  Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has received congratulatory messages from all over the world on today’s commemoration of the 49th anniversary of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

In her message, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, pledged readiness to work with President Kikwete towards achieving the AU vision.

"I am aware of the great strides that your country continues to make in the area of socio-political and economic development and its impact on stability and development in the eastern African region," she said in a statement availed to The Guardian yesterday.

The Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Quentin Bryce AC said: "I am pleased that the warm relations between our countries have continued to expand over the last year, built on shared Commonwealth values, cooperation in the United Nations and significant commercial ties, particularly in mining sector".

For his part, the President of China, Xi Jinping, said since the establishment of the Union, the Tanzanian government and people have worked hard for national development.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, cooperation between the two sides has brought achievements to all fields. I would like to work hand in hand with Your Excellency to push forward development for mutual benefits," he said.

Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz said: “I extend warm congratulations and ratify to you to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation uniting our two countries".

In his message, India President Pranab Mukherjee said: "Our multi-sectoral engagement has expanded and deepened over the years for the mutual benefit of our people. I am confident that our relations will continue to be strengthened further in the years to come," he said.

In her message, Queen Beatrix of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, congratulated President Kikwete and wished the people of Tanzania peace and prosperity.

 Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, said his country has maintained very close, cordial and cooperative relations with Tanzania in diverse fields for the last 46 years, adding that he is looking forward to strengthen the mutual and beneficial relations between the two countries.

The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa also sent his good wishes saying he hoped to continue expanding areas of cooperation for the benefit of both countries.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Dr Shein: It is illogical to think of breaking the Union

Zanzibar  President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein has said that it is illogical to break the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar because majorities of Tanzanians still have interests and benefits from it.

The Isles President made the remark yesterday soon after he laid the foundation stone at Mtoni Kidatu Juu Chama Cha Mapinduzi branch in Urban West Region.

The thinking of breaking the union is not right as the good intentions in social integration and increased economic power between two parties are more pertinent now than before, he said.

The founders of the Union who came from the two political parties TANU and ASP fulfilled their obligations, he said adding that it is upon the current generations to safeguard it instead of harbouring the thinking that it should be broken.

“Our Union has benefited both citizens of the Union, whereby people in other parts of the world envy us the way we live as children of one family without discrimination,” he said citing some attempted examples which failed as Egypt and Syria, Guinea, Senegal and Gambia.

He said the continued existence of the Union is a pride for Tanzanians in the eyes of the world.

Unfortunately those who are fighting for the Union to collapse are those who have already benefitted either in work promotion, education or have economic projects in either part of the Union.

Dr Shein called upon the current generations to refrain from activities that intended to break the Union.

“The Union government has decided to rewrite the Constitution with the intention of, among other things, improving the Union for the benefit of both sides, but some people are bent at breaking it,” he said.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Rights forum against death penalty planned for Monday

The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) in collaboration with the Penal Reform International (PRI) will on Monday conduct a training forum to build and strengthen civil society organizations’ knowledge and awareness of advocacy methods to fight against the death penalty.

The two-day session, which will draw participants from within and outside the country, is meant to create awareness on alternative sanctions that respect international human rights standards.

Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) acting Executive Director Harold Sungusia said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the session will draw attention on the importance of using the media to solicit public opinion and how the strategy works to boost the campaign.

He said the LHRC will host the meeting under the sponsorship of the European Union.

LHRC has since its inception taken a proactive role to campaign against capital punishment in the country.

 On October 10, 2008, the centre in collaboration with the SAHRINGON Tanzania Chapter and the Tanganyika Law Society filed a petition to the High Court demanding government to scrap the death penalty.

They suggested that people convicted of murder should be sentenced to life imprisonment to enable them to reform.

 Activists also call for abolishment of the death penalty on account that no justice system is safe from judicial error and innocent people are likely to be sentenced to death.

They also argue that the capital punishment is irreversible as there is no way one can return one’s life should they realise that the later was innocent.

Amnesty International (AI) on the other hand maintains that more often prisoners with influential families or other connections are more likely to escape execution, unlike those who are poor and come from marginalised communities.

 “In short, the death penalty is not only applied unfairly and in a secretive manner, but rather it is also discriminatory and is used against those who are least able to access their rights. It is little more than a macabre lottery whose consequences, for many, are lethal,” AI says.

Tanzania still retains the capital punishment and the last time someone was hanged was in 1994.

 The 2011 report by the World Congress Against the Death Penalty indicates that 141 countries were abolitionist in law or in practice;  97 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes, 36 countries had abolished it in practice while as 8 countries had abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes respectively.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

3m professionals required to oversee cyber security

A least three million certified professionals will be needed by the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology in the next three years after establishment of a commission to oversee cyber security in the country.

A consulting engineer and director of ICT in the ministry Dr Zaipuna Yohan said the requirement is based the national information, communication and technology human resources development programme under the ministry.

“In order to have an informed society, it is important to have knowledgeable workers who would provide and support the delivery of quality services,” he said.

He said certification will be even more critical once the cyber laws are enacted and become enforceable in Tanzania.

He said the commission’s tasks would include attracting investments in the ICT sector through Public-Private Partnership and to incubate the certification and create more jobs.

“I believe that the ICT fraternity is now the largest in the country although it is not b recognised fully,” he said.

On Wednesday, government revealed plans to set up a board that will be charged with overseeing cyber security professionals in a move to monitor and regulate cyber activities.

The board will work closely with the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology in seeing that cyber businesses are conducted by qualified people.

Addressing participants and IT experts from various countries at the East Africa Banking and IT security summit, Dr Yohan said the aim is to stop illegal cyber users.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN