REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEADERS GET NEW ULTIMATUM ON SCHOOL DESK SHORTAGES

DISTRICT leaders have been given two-week ultimatum to address the shortages of school desks in their respective areas or risk losing their jobs.

The government has also directed all district and regional executives to have in place sufficient classrooms to accommodate all students selected to join secondary education next month.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa issued the new timeframe for school desks here yesterday, reaffirming the government commitment to end shortage of school desks, which had impeded studying in public schools for decades. He challenged all district leaders whose areas of jurisdiction still face the shortage to seek the solution before the new year.

"We want all students to sit on desks when they resume studies early next year," the premier said in Arumeru during his official tour of Arusha region.

Government figures, which were recently released by President John Magufuli show that the shortage of desks in public schools had been addressed by 99 percent. Early last month, Minister of State in the President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, George Simbachawene, directed all regions, which had shortage of school desks to address the scarcity by next January.

"If by next January your area is found to still have school desk shortage, count yourself jobless," Premier Majaliwa insisted at his yesterday meeting, condemning the growing trend of admitting students in two intakes due to scarcity of classrooms.

He directed all students to study concurrently.He said the government has disbursed 80bn/- to all councils to help construction of teachers’ houses. Mr Majaliwa directed Arumeru District council to improve revenue collection from the current 30 to 50 per cent by the end of the year.

“You must speed up revenue collection in the council... everyone must fulfill their responsibilities and respect each other, irrespective of one’s position,” he said.

Mr Majaliwa said he has ordered the Land, Housing and Human Settlement Development Minister, Mr William Lukuvi, to visit the district next week to evaluate all the dormant farms which need government intervention.

He said the minister will assess all the plantations which have remained idle and undeveloped for long period before advising the government to revoke their ownership.  

Earlier, Arumeru District Commissioner Alexander Mnyeti, briefing the premier, said the council had planned to collect 1bn/- but “Until now only 30 percent of the target has been achieved.” He decried the presence of large farms which lie idle and underdeveloped, blaming them for the intense land wrangles in the district.