1 April 2004

The Ag. Vice Chancellor & DVC Academic, Prof. Tolly Mbwette,
The Director of Higher Education, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher
Education, Mr. A.S. Mbegu,
The Director General of Tanzania Education Authority, Ms M. Silla
The Registrar OUT, Prof. Uswege Minga,
Invited Government Officials and OUT Stakeholders, OUT Staff and Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

First of all I am grateful and feel greatly honoured to be invited to this event, which is historical for the Open University of Tanzania for the higher education in Tanzania. Sweden puts considerable emphasis on Human Resources Development in the present Development Cooperation Programme with Tanzania as one of the most important means in the long term sustainable development of Tanzania and in its efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.  In addition to this, Sweden also pays special attention to the Information & Communication Technology and is anxious to facilitate access to this technology for developing countries like Tanzania. We are convinced that this technology if properly applied and used can make a tremendous difference particularly in the field of access to education and learning. I am pleased to note that the Open University of Tanzania is playing an important role in Human Resources Development in a big scale through its distance learning programmes reaching in a cost effective manner students all over the country. And I am even more pleased to note that the OUT is now ready to take a new step forward in this field to sharpen the ICT tool for this purpose. Sweden is pleased to be associated with these efforts of the Open University of Tanzania.

Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The ten years of operation of a truly public higher education institution like the Open University of Tanzania is sufficiently long to justify a workshop like the one convened today by OUT that is attended by a cross section of its stakeholders. When one considers the global developments in Science and Technology that have taken place during the last decade and I am particularly referring to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution, big changes have taken place in the day to day life including the way in which higher education is delivered. And changes will continue to take place. However, it is important that each institution develops its own programme and adopts the ICT that serves each institution best. It is equally important to keep an eye on the outcomes and the results in relation to costs and not only on the inputs and the technology. I am sure that today’s workshop will touch upon these issues.

Mr. Chairman,

I am comforted by what I have been told that, to date, a greater proportion of the OUT graduates come from the education sector with the majority being teachers from various urban and rural areas of Tanzania. As you may know, Sweden is a long standing supporter of the PEDP and is presently considering support also to the SEDP. Sweden is also supporting the MoE’s ambition to bring ICT into basic education starting with the Teacher Colleges. A study to that effect is in its final stage and was the subject for discussions with some stakeholders. Why is Sweden through its international development cooperation agency Sida, prepared to support OUT?

1. We think the distance learning mode applied by OUT is cost effective and is beneficial to some 75% of the population of Tanzania. It is affordable to many and can allow students to carry on their own income bringing activity in parallel to studies.

2. With ICT efficient contacts between OUT teachers and students are enhanced. It is easier to get access to information.

3. Synergy with other programmes supported by Sweden notably PEDP and SEDP which may be included in the programme in future.
OUT efforts in improving the quality of the teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools as well as in training Colleges must continue in order to ensure that the entire Education Sector of Tanzania can fulfil its tremendously important role.

A major challenge in the educational sectors is to fill the great need as defined in the reform programs (PEDP & SEDP), and especially:

• Primary education would need approx. 25,000 new teachers by year 2006.
• Secondary Education would need approx. 52,000 new teachers by year 2010.
• Upgrading and in-service training of current teachers.
• Training of management and administrative staff in the sector – people that will work with the implementation of the reform programs.

OUT can play an important role in filling these needs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I end this speech, I am encouraged by the fact that the coming two days will be crucial for reviewing OUT operations and its experiences under the fast changing environment both in national and global terms There are many challenges ahead, but I am convinced that they can be addressed one by one partly in this workshop and partly in the continued improvement process during the day to day operations of the OUT.  I wish to thank the OUT Management under the capable leadership of the vice-chancellor Mr Geoffrey Mmari. Please be assured of our continued partnership in development of the Tanzanian Education Sector.

I now have pleasure to declare the OPEN SPACE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW MEETING OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA FORMALLY OPEN.

I Thank You For Your Attention.