Tanzania scholars in Germany in the cold

Published On: Mon, Jan 23rd, 2012
Tanzania | Published On: Mon, Jan 23rd, 2012

Education and Vocational Training minister Shukuru Kawambwa
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Thirty-seven Tanzanians pursuing doctoral studies in Germany under government scholarship are stranded and living in desperate conditions as the state has delayed to dispatch their quarterly living allowances.


The students are assistant lecturers from various public Universities under Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) and German Education Exchange Programme (DAAD) scholarship.


A leader of the students, Charles Lyimo, told the ‘Daily News' via email last week that they have not been paid their allowances from January to March this year. "Most of us have started to experience problems with our landlords and other services such as transport, internet, water, electricity as they are contract-based and have already been disconnected," he explained.


Lyimo explained that, under the scholarship arrangement, TCU is expected to pay 80 per cent of the money after every three months and, DAAD, 20 per cent every month. He noted that they have tried to communicate with Dar es Salaam since December in vain.


"We are now going to the end of January and don't know our fate, it would be better for the government to tell us what is going on or give us return fare so that we can go back home," he said. TCU's Senior Public Relations Officer, Edward Mkaku, confirmed to the ‘Daily News' that they had not received funds from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to send to Germany.


He said TCU had made many enquiries regarding the said allowances but had not received formal communication yet. Both Minister and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training could not be reached for comment but Deputy Minister Philip Mulugo said he did not have any information about the problem.


A senior official with the ministry, who preferred anonymity, as he was not the spokesperson, said they were processing the payment. "We are aware of the matter and as we speak we are processing their payment, within a few days they will get their money," he said, but declined to comment on the reasons for delay.


The students are from University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Mzumbe University, Open University of Tanzania, State University of Zanzibar, Ardhi University (AU), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and University of Dodoma (UDOM).

By FARAJA MGWABATI, Tanzania Daily News

What's wrong with this Greedy GVT; we cannot have time to support our Students Overseas? but we can suppport Our stomachs ??

This GVT is a Shame!! Ph.D students, If they have brains and migrate to the US they will have everything they want in life no stress.

Shukuru Kawambwa does not know how to run the Ministry he has that position just because he's Kikwete childhood friend.

Ndiyo hivyo!! komaeni wajomba hii ndiyo serikali yetu, vyuo vyenyewe vinaelekea kuzimu kwa kukumbatia urafiki badala ya professional za watu na competence zao!!

Serikali ya Kikwete imefilisika!

Halafu tunataraji hawa ndio waje kuwa walimuw a vijana wetu...

Poleni sana wapambanaji, Inshallar Mungu atawapigania mmalize salama.

na hako ka nchi box halipigiki aiseee....

ccm, ccm, . Nadhani kawambwa kajea matundu 5 ya choo hela za hao watu

Scholarship zenyewe za TCU-DAAD zilivokuwa zikipita kwa mbwembwe na interview mbili mbili hapa bongo na ile final committee inayokaa huko Germany yaani ungepata picha kwamba wanafunzi hawa watasoma kwa raha. Na serikali haina aibu. Hii ni collaboration kati ya DAAD na serikali ya Tanzania. DAAD wanalipia research cost na fee ya doctoral supervisor ambayo kwa nchi zilizomo kwenye European Union ni euro nyingi sana na serikali ilikwepa hilo ikajicommit kwenye gharama ya subsistence allowance and return air fare. Sasa hata hicho kiduchu tu kwa wanafunzi wasiofika hamsini kinawashinda? Sasa DAAD wanawaelewa vipi?

Na kwa masharti ya DAAD hakuna mwanafunzi atakaeruhusiwa kupata alternative funding mpaka baada ya kipindi fulani. Na kwa doctoral studies kutegemea funds za grant moja lazima hiyo grant iwe inalipa hasa. Na inavyoonekana hii sio scholarship inayolipa. Kusema ukweli ndugu zetu wanateseka sana hawa na serikali ifanye hima kurekebisha hii hali.

Kwa mtazam,o wangu, huwa ni kosa kubwa mtu kukubali scholarship ambayo kiasi fulani cha fedha kinatolewa na serikali ya Tanzania au hela yote ya udhamini kutolewa na serikali ya Tanzania.....maana at the end itakula kwako. Kama unataka kusoma Bachelor's degree, Master's au PhD ni vyema utafute scholarship ambayo 100% inalipwa na chuo unachoenda kusoma, au serikali ya nchi unayokwenda kusoma kuondokana na longolongo za kitanzania

MAKULILO

nngu007 said:

What's wrong with this Greedy GVT; we cannot have time to support our Students Overseas? but we can suppport Our stomachs ??

This GVT is a Shame!! Ph.D students, If they have brains and migrate to the US they will have everything they want in life no stress.

Shukuru Kawambwa does not know how to run the Ministry he has that position just because he's Kikwete childhood friend.

Click to expand...

yaani shukuru kawambwa alipata muda mwingi wa kwenda kuwasikiliza wale mbulukenge wa primary schools walioandamana lakini muda wa kuwaondolea adha wasomi wetu wakubwa hana...nduhu getegete...!

sweke34 said:

yaani shukuru kawambwa alipata muda mwingi wa kwenda kuwasikiliza wale mbulukenge wa primary schools walioandamana lakini muda wa kuwaondolea adha wasomi wetu wakubwa hana...nduhu getegete...!

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arifu wale nao si ndio wanaelekea huko.....

Tunamashaka makubwa na Naibu waziri wa Elimu Mh. Philip Mulugo. Amekuwa hafahamu lolote linaloendelea Wizarani wala hatumuoni akijihusisha na lolote linalohusu Wizara. Je Unaibu wake ni "Title" tu ili awe anajipatia marupurupu yake?Kila kitu hafahamu, inamaana ashiriki/ashirikishwi kwenye vikao vya wizara ili kujua yanayoendelea katika sekta ya husika. Imetutia wasiwasi sana pale aliposema yeye hafahamu matatizo ya wanafunzi wanaosoma Germany, na kwenye Gurdian ya jumapiku iliyoandika mada hii alisema yeye si msemaji, msemaji ni Waziri ambaye alikuwa ziarani Arusha. Tunatumai KATIBA ijayo haitaruhusu mianya kama hii inayofuja bure kodi za wananchi.