BANKS and various other financial institutions have been asked to extend financial support to students in higher learning institutions instead of leaving the burden to the government.
The Governor of the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), Prof. Benno Ndulu, gave the advice in Dar es Salaam on Saturday at the launching of month-long celebrations of University of Dar es Salaam's 50th anniversary organized by the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS).
"It is high time financial institutions helped to invest in education. Deliberate support in the form of loans will be highly appreciated. BoT is working on the final details of a strategic plan to support students in higher learning institutions," Prof. Ndulu said.
The prominent economist and Head of the Central Bank, said that the arrangement (loans to students) was practised in many other countries to lessen the burden that the government has to bear.
In his opening remarks, the Vice- Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof. Rwekaza Mukandala, said that the achievements recorded by the university in the past 50 years would serve as a springboard for greater strides in future.
He further spoke of the need for the university to tap into the vast experiences, knowledge and social networks that its alumni have developed or achieved after graduation.
"For much of the past 50 years the University of Dar es Salaam has been the sole source of high level human resources in the country.
"The institution has produced all manner of professionals and high ranking public servants. These include presidents, chief justices, ministers, parliamentarians, vice-chancellors, BoT Governors and many more," Prof. Mukandala said.
For this reason, he added, we are in the process of establishing the necessary mechanism for realistic and sustained collaboration between our alumni and the Alma Mater to begin and thrive.
Among the invited guests were ten celebrities who were presented with special awards. These included President Jakaya Kikwete and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda who were represented at the occasion.
Among public personalities who graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam include President Kikwete, President Museveni and a former leader of Southern Sudan, the late Dr John Garang.
Others include the current Deputy UN Secretary General, Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, former UN-Habitat Director Prof. Anne Tibaijuka currently Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development and former EAC Secretary General Juma Mwapachu.
Others include former President of the Pan African Parliament Getrude Mongela, the current Attorney General of Kenya, Amos Wako, former Prime Minister Joseph Warioba, the current Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda, former Speaker of the National Assembly, Samuel Sitta and almost all ministers.
Earlier, the Principal of CASS, Prof. Betram Mapunda, spoke of the need to improve the working space especially the offices. "It is not unusual to find three senior staff members of or ten junior staff members sharing an office.
"This, by no standards, is not a conducive working situation for a university lecturer," Prof. Mapunda said. He said that team offices (staff rooms) were not convenient for concentration which is needed to prepare lecture notes.
As a result, staff members spend very little time in their offices. They rest either at their homes or go for part-time business.
"Members are also scared of keeping their personal academic property such as books, computers and others in fear of losing them because most such offices are empty except for chairs and tables," he said. There are no locker cabinets.
However, the Principal clarified on departmental efforts made to alleviate the situation such that the Archaeology programme, for example, had secured funds from the World Bank to erect a heritage building that would house a university museum and offices.
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