President of TTU, Ms Margaret Sitta,Members of the National Executive Committee of TTURepresentatives of the Swedish and DanishTeachers Unions Distinguished invitees Ladies and gentlemen
I’m honoured to be invited as the Guest of Honour to participate in the opening of this seminar on Negotiation skills and techniques for members of the executive committee and secretariats of the Tanzania Teachers’ Union as well as from the Zanzibar Teachers’ Union. I am particularly honoured to address teachers, who are shouldering one of the most important responsibilities in a country – that of shaping the future.
I would like to start by congratulating the TTU for having obtained negotion rights through the “Public Service Negotiating Machinery Act of 2003. This is an important step for the Teachers in Tanzania. It provides the TTU with possibilities to exercise a direct influence on working conditions for the teachers on behalf of its members. But with this new role comes also responisbilities. It is a demanding role and it needs to be exercised in a professional manner both in relation to the members and in relation to the Employer or the Government. In previous jobs I have now and then negotiated with trade unions and I must say that when the union was well prepared and knew the issues well, their arguments were much stronger and they were more successful. I’m especially pleased to note that you have close and good relations with the teachers’ unions in Sweden and Denmark and that you take advantage of these relations for enhancing your own negotiation skills and techniques. Tanzania, Denmark and Sweden are of course different but I am convinced that there are similarities as well. Let me wish you all the very best in these efforts and may you become good negotiaters in the interest of Teachers and Education in Tanzania.
Education is one of the key sectors in Tanzania’s overall Poverty Reduction Strategy and the expansion and improvement of Primary Education is one of the main challenges for Tanzania. As most of you are aware, Sweden is provding considerable financial support to the Education Sector in Tanzania because we share the view of Tanzania in this respect. PEDP is the main target for Swedish support and we have noted considerable improvements particular in terms of enrolement. However, it is also noted that the quality of teaching and learning in primary education has not improved to the same extent. I believe teachers and their Unions have a role to play also here. By improving quality in teaching and learning, the status of education and teachers in society will improve, if the status improves, teachers will increase their bargaining power and then their prospects of improved working conditions. You will also be in a position to demand pre- and inservice training, reduced class sizes, timely supply of quality text books, improved teaching and learning materials etc etc. . As educators, teachers have a great deal of influence on their students and their future capabilities as citizens in a democratic society, as human beings, as employees and – not to forget – future parents. Teachers gain considerable experience of children and their development.This experience is an important asset, not least in the design of the curriculum. Even if the curriculum to considerable extent is a political product, it also needs to be based on realities in the classrooms. I do believe that TTU has an important role in influencing these type of policies and the curricula being important instruments for the work of teachers.
As I said, it’s an important step for the teachers’ union in Tanzania to have achieved the right to negotiate with the government concerning working conditions, and that the right of the teachers is now recognized. It is equally important that teachers in their daily tasks recognize the rights of the students. In the International Convention of the Rights of the Child some basic principles are defined, including the right to development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential, as well as the right for the child to be listened to, etc. A child-rights perspective has important imlications for the way teaching is conceived and organised. It implies for example the elaboration of flexible and learner-centred teaching methods creating conditions for childtren to develop their potential.
The development of Tanzania as a democratic society starts in school; the democratic and rights-based functioning of schools is a very important means of promoting human rights generally in the society and building a democratic society from the bottom.
It is obvious that the teachers have an enormously important role to play in the development of individuals and od society. The task ahead is huge, but it’s doable. I’m convinced that you will be able to, step by step, improve the conditions for teachers, improve conditions for students, improve conditions for teaching and learning and in doing so effectively contributing to the development of Tanzania.
I wish you every success in this workshop and all your negotiations in future.
Thank you!