Speaker urges review of recruitment criteria
DODOMA: SPEAKER of Parliament, Dr Tulia Ackson, has urged the government to reconsider the criteria used for recruitment, saying that current practices have been detrimental to volunteers seeking employment opportunities.
Dr Tulia said this during a parliamentary question and answer session on Tuesday, following a query to the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Public Service Management, and Good Governance, George Simbachawene.
She sought clarification on the guidelines governing volunteers in various sectors, including healthcare and education.
Mr Simbachawene acknowledged the challenges associated with developing suitable criteria but assured the House that the government was working collaboratively with relevant committees to address these issues.
Dr Tulia expressed concern about the disparities in treatment between volunteers and interns, particularly in the medical field.
She said there are some instances where qualified doctors working on voluntary contracts received lower pay compared to interns, despite providing valuable training and mentorship.
“If this requires broader thinking, we should involve more people,” Dr Tulia said, pointing out the unfairness of a system that often prioritizes interns over experienced volunteers.
Meanwhile, Special Seat MP Grace Tendega inquired about the consideration of long-term volunteers in the recent recruitment of 11,015 teachers.
Responding, Deputy Minister in President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government Zainab Katimba assured the House that the government would take into account the experience and dedication of volunteers during the recruitment process.
In response to a question about teacher shortages in the Mtwara region, Deputy Minister Katimba said the government had recruited 29,879 teachers between 2020 and 2023, with the Mtwara region receiving 968 new teachers.
She said the recent announcement of 11,015 new teaching positions is expected to further alleviate the shortage in the region.
