Transforming Teaching and Learning in Mbogwe

My name is Emmanuel Kavula, Rural Youth Champion from Masumbwe Village, Masumbwe Ward, Mbogwe District I am pleased to see the improvement of teaching and learning environments in our Mbogwe District. My heart is filled with great hope after seeing changes in school infrastructure. My joy is very great to see financial resource investment in education. "The existence of changes in school infrastructure and budget investment in education for the financial year 2025/2026 is the result of major transformations in Mbogwe's education sector." Mbogwe District Council has a total of 17 wards where there are 104 primary schools and 25 secondary schools, including private schools. Furthermore, students from public primary and secondary schools study in schools located in these wards. Mbogwe District Council received funds amounting to TZS 1.1 billion for the construction of early childhood and primary education infrastructure for the financial year 2025/2026.

The council received these funds from the central government through the Boost Program, where these funds were used to build new schools, construct toilet facilities, and renovate classrooms. Visible achievements in Mbogwe include examples of development project implementation in Mbogwe District Council for the financial year 2025/2026. The construction of two dormitories, two classrooms, and ten toilet facilities at Masumbwe Secondary School in Nyakafulu Ward totaling TZS 331,000,000. The construction of two dormitories, two classrooms, and ten toilet facilities at Nyakasaluma Secondary School in Masumbwe Ward totaling TZS 331,000,000 from SEQUIP funds. The construction of two classrooms at Nyasato Primary School in Nyasato Ward with a cost of TZS 35,000,000 from the central government. These are positive results and major transformations in the education sector of Mbogwe District and the contribution of youth in raising existing challenges in primary and secondary schools, including shortage and deterioration of classrooms, shortage of toilet facilities for girls and boys.

These efforts we have been making to ensure school infrastructure becomes friendly for students with special needs to achieve good and equal results in teaching and learning for all children. Not only that, but in visiting public primary and secondary schools, we have succeeded in following up on funds brought to development projects and how these funds have been used in constructing school infrastructure. Ilangale Secondary School located in Masumbwe Ward, Mbogwe District, is a good example of a school we succeeded in visiting that was facing the challenge of classroom shortage along with toilet facilities. The government provided an amount of 100 million shillings for the construction of this school. Similarly, school toilets were built at a cost of 15 million shillings, and two classrooms valued at 34 million were built to improve the teaching and learning environment. This is a major step in ensuring children get quality education in good and safe environments. Mkapa Primary School located in Masumbwe Ward, Mbogwe District received 82 million shillings.

Mkapa Primary School, which appears as an example of transformation in the education sector, was also facing the challenge of classroom shortage along with shortage of toilet facilities, where the first phase received 74 million shillings for the construction of school infrastructure. In the second phase, 8 million shillings was provided for the construction of toilet facilities to ensure cleanliness and good environment for students. Implementation and efficiency in school infrastructure construction is contributed by efforts in implementing our social responsibilities as youth by raising existing challenges in the education sector and reaching relevant places for solutions. Furthermore, in implementing our social responsibilities, we have been ensuring school infrastructure construction is implemented with quality and on time according to the funds that are brought to schools. Our efficiency in following up on development projects and raising challenges demonstrates unique contribution that brings positive results in contributing to education improvement in the country.

Genuine commitment in following up on school development projects - having a genuine commitment to ensure Tanzanian children get education in good and safe environments, youth have been following up on funds brought and their use at grassroots level for development projects. For example, school infrastructure construction through the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) III through the TPRP IV (OPEC) project in the third year of implementation is an example of positive results in the education sector nationally, where the construction of an 80-student dormitory at Nyakasaluma Secondary School located in Masumbwe Ward costs TZS 136,354,712.5. This is a sign of building a society with quality education and investing in today and a good tomorrow for our children and youth. The journey of transformation in education by participating in budget processes - in the stages of budget preparation, budget approval, implementation, and accountability, youth will continue to participate in their own way by attending meetings, including village general meetings, through the position of elected members and representatives from civil society organizations and other social groups or organizations, council assemblies, and thus getting the opportunity to give opinions, ideas, and arguments in budget preparation and planning.

Discussions that bring positive results and democratic dividends in society - we will continue to meet and talk with village and ward executives as well as councilors to be able to provide accurate statistics from different areas of primary and secondary schools in our district regarding needs and shortages in schools and unequal distribution of education resources, especially in rural areas. Similarly, through the budget parliament, we will continue to follow up and participate to know the amount of funds allocated to each region and council to facilitate follow-up in the stage of budget implementation and accountability at grassroots levels.

Community participation in development projects - it is important to increase efforts in involving citizens in strategic and development projects, especially when it comes to budget and decision-making issues. When citizens are involved, it can help know the amount of funds brought to schools along with their use, which can also help reduce challenges in project implementation in relevant areas. This can lead to increased accountability and good efficiency in development project implementation.

Thank you for your attention! Asante sana!