THE Government through the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology has set a budget of 26 billion/- for building and rehabilitating science laboratories in secondary schools across the country.
Speaking at the Young Scientists Tanzania Awards ceremony in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, the Deputy Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, January Makamba, said the aim of the plan is to transform the theoretical methods that are used in teaching science into practical oriented.
"Science is practical oriented subject and it is suit for truth hence it will be more effective if we put more effort in building and rehabilitating laboratories so as to make our own future scientists," said Makamba .
In showing the government's commitment in science and technology in the country, the Deputy Minister said that there is need for designing the education system in the country to promote imagination in science subjects.
"Dialogues with stakeholders should be conducted so as to engage students and teachers to invest more on science subjects and hence create young scientist which will enable the country to depend on its technology," added Makamba.
He noted that the government will also ensure that its schools are practical oriented by recruiting science teachers all over the schools in the country, "we understand that our country is facing a challenge of science teachers but the government is keen on that," noted Deputy Minister.
However, the government through its long term plan of "Tanzania Beyond Tomorrow" is going to deploy more on TEHAMA whereby a teacher can be able to teach a number of students from one station in order to fight the challenge of insufficient science teachers.
In her opening remarks the Irish Ambassador to Tanzania who was the guest of honour, Fionnuala Gilsenan, praised the sponsors and urged them to continue sponsoring such events so as to enable generating more science talents as she also looks forward to ensure Ireland builds more mutual relationship with Tanzania so as to make young scientists prosper.
The Director of Young Scientist Tanzania Dr Kamgisha Gozibet, praised the participants of this year for coming up with projects that will help in generating new ideas in helping technology development in the country.
The overall winner of this years' Young Scientists Tanzania 2013 went to Jafari Ndagula and Jeremiah Vincent from Singida who present on drip irrigation system using recycled materials while the second runner up went to Shemsa Abdulkarim and Salha Said of Haile Selaisse Secondary School in Zanzibar. The winners will have a trip to Ireland to explore more scientific innovations.
