Samia uplifts teachers

ARUSHA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has assured teachers that the government recognises their challenges and is actively working on resolving them.

She expressed her government commitment on Sunday in a brief phone address during a meeting between the Arusha Urban MP Mrisho Gambo and teachers in the region.

The MP joined Arusha teachers to celebrate the ‘World Teachers Day’, which is observed annually on October 5.

The meeting, organised by Mr Gambo, included the donation of cooking gas cylinders and stoves to 5,000 primary and secondary school teachers.

The Head of State insisted that the government values the contributions of teachers across the country and that it is committed to improving their welfare as budget allows.

“I commend you for championing the clean cooking energy agenda. We are aware of your challenges and the government is dedicated to addressing them,” she said.

President Samia recognised the important work teachers do, asserting that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure they are fairly paid. She pledged to review teachers’ salaries whenever funding becomes available.

The Head of State also commended the teachers for supporting the clean energy campaign.

“Let me congratulate you for upholding this clean cooking agenda,” Dr Samia said as she also pledged to donate more other gas cylinders to teachers.

The Head of State also hailed the partnership between the energy company and an MP for supporting the government’s efforts to promote clean cooking energy.

On his part, Mr Gambo informed President Samia that teachers in Arusha City had stayed for five years without being promoted but under her leadership, a total of 3,150 were promoted.

He said that teachers were also grateful for being granted accelerated promotion, saying previously it was difficult for them to receive such opportunities.

ALSO READ: Samia insists on just tax

The MP further said that previously, when constructing schools, community members were compelled to contribute by participating in manual labour. However, to date, Arusha City has received 20bn/-, which has been used to construct five secondary schools and two primary schools, including high-rise school buildings.

Mr Gambo said the construction of the primary schools has relieved students from walking long distance to and from school to access education.

“We are also thankful for providing 1.4bn/- for teachers’ transfer and leave allowances,” he said.

Mr Gambo also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of all teachers, saying, in celebrating Teachers’ Day, it deemed it fitting to provide each teacher with a gas stove so they could serve as ambassadors for clean energy.

Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Omar Kipanga, who presided over the Teachers’ Day celebrations as Chief Guest in Arusha Region on behalf of the Minister for Education, Professor Adolf Mkenda, expressed gratitude to President Samia for her ongoing efforts to encourage the use of clean cooking energy.

“On this day, we focus on the important issue of clean cooking energy. As you know, President Samia spoke to us today and we recall that in May, she launched the campaign to promote clean cooking energy. Our government’s goal is to ensure that by 2034, at least 80 per cent of Tanzanians will have access to clean cooking energy,” he said.

The deputy minister added that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has embraced the initiative, starting with all educational institutions serving over 100 people to ensure they adopt clean cooking energy.

“Therefore, clean cooking energy is now being introduced in all our primary and secondary schools, as well as other educational institutions,” Mr Kipanga said.

Earlier, Oryx Tanzania managing Director, Mr Benoit Araman, said the company decided to provide gas cylinders to teachers because they believe using gas for cooking can significantly benefit the community.