A Tale of Two Universities By Karim F. Hirji

Mzuvendi said:

Another point, some of early professors and instructors made life very harder for university students. They made universities elite place where very few could survival. For example, I know a guy who didn't make the second year at MUCHS: however, when he went to Europe, he became a star student.

Yes there's a need to be to be rigorously. Yes there's a need to have high standards of education, but professors should fair and know that the country lags behind and in need of professionals.

Click to expand...

Thanks My brother,

Usually admire some of the comments in this forum when they talk of low GPAs and say..."wow, thank God they were not in MUCHS"

I am a victim of that situation and indeed People like Prof Karim is no exception as he grew within the cohort, luckily in some cases (and when you know a professor who at least once in life knew about MUCHS took a risk and gave you a shot)...

Education is hard, but at the same time should be an opportunity and NOT an obstacle!!

Mzuvendi said:

................Now to improve the quality of education, the country can establish the higher education regulatory as you suggested above. Nonetheless, in practice the agency won't differ from the National Examination Council of Tanzania. Instead of improving the standard of education, it will become corrupt because students who don't want to take their work seriously in classrooms will try anything to qualify.
The best approach, I believe, is to start peer reviews, record keeping, professional licensing and exams, background checks, and rewarding people accordingly.

Click to expand...

Mkuu....hapo tutakuwa tunalea ugonjwa wa maendeleo ya elimu..............Hili ndilo jambo ambalo Prof Hirji amelizungumzia na kusema ifuatavyo.......

Prof Hirji said:

.............With just a single student present, I lost all the incentive I had to give my lecture. I was about to leave when the director said, "Since the professor is here, let us pick his brain to see what advice he can give on student research." The student at hand was interested in undertaking a research project related to the WHO guidelines for the treatment of asthma.

One of the external consultants had already advised him on the matter. So a discussion on how to proceed with it began. To put it mildly, the cart was being put miles ahead of the horse here. When after one and a half year's into their training, the core subject that prepares students for research had hardly been taught, and when my efforts to correct that shortfall had gone no where, how could one talk about doing actual research? Or about getting research funds? The basic subject had to be taught first, period. There was no other issue. Yet all seemed oblivious to that elementary proposition. Tired, I just mumbled a few words, posed a question or two, and called it a day. When I walked out, it was with a silent vow not to put my foot into that door again unless I had firm evidence that things had changed for the better at this university.....

Click to expand...

Pia ninakunaliana na Prof Hirji aliposema ifuatavyo

Prof Hirji said:

............This is my view: while a teacher is the guide over an arduous terrain, the main part of education is one's own work. Education is about books and practice; burning the candle through the night; thinking and doing, thinking and doing, over and over. It is demanding work, reflecting on complex issues and learning the tough tasks, be it in law or physiology, medicine or engineering. Theory and practice integrating the distinct skills and strands of knowledge; and even pondering on the limitations of what one is learning: that is the ABC of real education. No computer or gadget can replace that. If a scholar or an expert has to emerge at the end, education has to occur the old fashioned way [1]..........

Click to expand...

Elimu ni kitu sensitive..........tukichukulia mchezo mchezo............hii ndio itakuwa safari yetu ya kwenda shimoni kielimu kama Taifa ndio imeiva............

Kama hatutajenga misingi imara ya elimu i.e. standards.....hata tuwe na professional bodies lukuki namna gani...hazitasaidia kitu......b'se with our lousy systems there will be so many passing through the cracks.........na hatimaye tutakuwa na Taifa lenye mediocre professionals.......ambao wataendeleza "libeneke" la LOUSY systems.......

Sisi waswahili tuliposema "Kambale/samaki mkunje angali m-bichi"........hatukubahatisha aisee

learned said:

Kuna organisational and structural challenges kwene vyuo binafsi vingi..whereas the public institutions bank their many years experience in organising their curricula and provision of education(to their advantage),the private institutions in Tanzania are at their infancy stage and seem to struggle at how best to go about it.That,coupled with financial hurdles and shortage of requisite experts makes it even harder for them............

Click to expand...

Mkuu uendeshaji wa vyuo its not "a difficult science"............kuna models nyingi sana za uongozi wa vyuo ambazo vyuo vipya wanaweza ku-adopt........

Prof Hirji..........kaliongelea hili lakini kwa context nyingine.........kama ifuatavyo

Prof Hirji said:

..........Feeling that the students deserved better, I volunteered to help out. The director expeditiously organized a meeting. Present were himself, two AKU instructors, an American professor cum consultant, and myself. After initial introductions, I was handed a draft of the syllabus for the subject. That was my next bit of surprise. The half a page document was more a copy of the table of contents of a standard text than something crafted with effort or thought. In this era of email and the Internet, how difficult is it to secure, borrow or copy a decent, detailed syllabus? How can a postgraduate program even begin without one?............

Click to expand...

Ogah said:

Mkuu uendeshaji wa vyuo its not "a difficult science"............kuna models nyingi sana za uongozi wa vyuo ambazo vyuo vipya wanaweza ku-adopt........

Prof Hirji..........kaliongelea hili lakini kwa context nyingine.........kama ifuatavyo

Click to expand...

Ogah mkuu

Kwenye hiyo quote ya prof ya kukopi, i am worried

MTM said:

Ogah mkuu

Kwenye hiyo quote ya prof ya kukopi, i am worried

Click to expand...

I feel you Mkuu!......sidhani kama Prof alimaanisha kuwa u-copy na ku-paste........kimsingi alimaanisha kuna mambo ambayo hatuhitaji ku-invent the wheel.........

kuna mwanafunzi wa Prof hapo juu (msafi)........anaeleza kuwa walipewa open book test/exam......tatizo watu wakipewa open book wanafikiri ni ku-copy na ku-paste............hapana........ndio maana msafi kasema watu walitoboa/walipata maksi za chini..........

kimsingi...ukiwa muelewa/educated/professional wa suala/somo husika..........sometime unatumia available information/resources ku-suit mazingira yako bila ku-jeopardize standards husika ofcourse...........

Inasikitisha na kufurahisha. Huyu prof amekuwa mkweli ila maskini hakujua kuwa siku hizi Tanzania kinachofanyika vyuoni japo si vyote ni kudesa na kuhongana ngono na ****** mwingine kupata digrii. Ingawa hatupendi kukubaliana na ukweli, hii ndiyo maana ukija Ulaya au Amerika lazima wakurejeshe shule au kukupitisha kwa taaluma baada ya muda mrefu. Kusema ukweli ukisoma nyumbani na ukaja kusoma huku utaona tofauti kubwa. Huku rushwa haina nafasi na juhudi za mtu hulipa wakati huko Bongolaland kinachojaliwa ni rushwa au mtoto wa nani? Prof Hirji hajakosea. Ni mara ngapi unasikia kuwa wapasuaji wamesahau mkasi kwenye tumbo la mgonjwa au kumfanyia operesheni ya mguu mgonjwa wa kichwa na wa kichwa vice versa? Shame on our kleptocragonic system.

Mzuvendi said:

Another point, some of early professors and instructors made life very harder for university students. They made universities elite place where very few could survival. For example, I know a guy who didn't make the second year at MUCHS: however, when he went to Europe, he became a star student.

Yes there's a need to be to be rigorously. Yes there's a need to have high standards of education, but professors should fair and know that the country lags behind and in need of professionals.

Click to expand...

mr!it would be wise to mention whether this 'european university' was a private or public owned.to be a 'star' in a private institution in my opinion,you need to pay fees on time and have a little bit of seriousness on the other side to star in a public institution you need to be SERIOUS.so please hebu tuambie alienda chuo gani na attitude yake kwenye masomo ilikuaje?hasa ukizingatia alishaonja machungu ya kufail.

mpayukaji said:

Inasikitisha na kufurahisha. Huyu prof amekuwa mkweli ila maskini hakujua kuwa siku hizi Tanzania kinachofanyika vyuoni japo si vyote ni kudesa na kuhongana ngono na ****** mwingine kupata digrii. Ingawa hatupendi kukubaliana na ukweli, hii ndiyo maana ukija Ulaya au Amerika lazima wakurejeshe shule au kukupitisha kwa taaluma baada ya muda mrefu. Kusema ukweli ukisoma nyumbani na ukaja kusoma huku utaona tofauti kubwa. Huku rushwa haina nafasi na juhudi za mtu hulipa wakati huko Bongolaland kinachojaliwa ni rushwa au mtoto wa nani? Prof Hirji hajakosea. Ni mara ngapi unasikia kuwa wapasuaji wamesahau mkasi kwenye tumbo la mgonjwa au kumfanyia operesheni ya mguu mgonjwa wa kichwa na wa kichwa vice versa? Shame on our kleptocragonic system.

Click to expand...

Well said Prof! Tumevuruga mfumo wa elimu kuanzia primary ni ngumu kutengeneza mfumo bora wa universities! Leo tumeunda TCU al most 5 years bado ni taasisi ndogo yenye staff wachache sana pamoja na unyeti wa kazi zao! Hata tukiwapa meno kama ya Simba hao TCU haitabadili kitu kama elimu ya sekondari na primary ni mbovu.Uzalendo,uadilifu unajengwa ktk mfumo wa elimu!

meningitis said:

mr!it would be wise to mention whether this 'european university' was a private or public owned.to be a 'star' in a private institution in my opinion,you need to pay fees on time and have a little bit of seriousness on the other side to star in a public institution you need to be SERIOUS.so please hebu tuambie alienda chuo gani na attitude yake kwenye masomo ilikuaje?hasa ukizingatia alishaonja machungu ya kufail.

Click to expand...

He went to a public school where his study habits weren't an issue. In Tanzania, he wanted to study and enjoy his life openly.

Mzuvendi said:

He went to a public school where his study habits weren't an issue. In Tanzania, he wanted to study and enjoy his life openly.

Click to expand...

sielewi kwa nini unasema "study habits" hazikuwa issue??naamini huyu mwanafunzi alibadilika sana,lazima alijipangia ratiba nzuri ya kufanya assignment n.k
hapo kwenye bold umenichosha kwa sababu haya mambo mawili yaani to study
and to enjoy your life huwa yanakinzana.kwangu mimi ili watu fulani waenjoy their life ni lazima kuwepo wachache waliojitoa kuumia kwa ajili ya wengi.hivyo kuna wanaochagua kusoma na kuna wanaochagua kula maisha.ukichanganya haya mambo mawili hutafanikiwa kwa lolote.labda uniambie kustudy ni njia mojawapo ya kuenjoy maisha....

Profesa Hirji si ni marehemu huyu?

mambo mengi anayoaongelea ya utata kwa sababu elimu hii ya mkoloni haina uwezo wa kuandaa wataalamu ambao wanajitegemea kimawazo na kimatendo kama wengi wanadhani kwa sababu mitaala yote inasisitiza kukariri na kuimarisha kumbukumbu tu....................

mbali ya hapo msisitizo upo katika kuajiriwa na badala ya kujiajiri........

vyuo vyote hawviwezi kulingana hata kama ni vya umma vyote au la.................lazima madaraja yatakuwepo tu ya kitija....................vyuo vya binafsi vina changamoto zake ikiwa kutegemea karo za wanafunzi wanaogharimia na serikali...............hatuna mabiashara makubwa ya kufadhili wanafunzi nje ya utaratibu huo.....elimu zote ziwe za binafsi au za umma lengo lake bado ni kuimarisha uchumi wa ulaya magharibi ingelikuwa si hivyo nchi zetu zingelikuwa zimeendelea siku nyingi sana.......

majibu ni kuachana na kusisitiza sana elimu ya juu kama msingi wa maendeleo na kutoa msisitizo kwenye elimu ya ubunifu na vitendo kama ufundi mchundo, sanaa, michezo ambapo mwanafunzi atapimwa zaidi kwa kutenda badala ya kupimwa uwezo wa kukariri kama ilivyo saSA HATA KESHO......

Radhia Sweety said:

Stori ndefu hadi kiuno kinauma. Kwa jinsi niijuavyo JF, sijui kama utapata wachangiaji.

Click to expand...

Okay, mwenzetu uliyesoma 'story' hadi kiuno kukauma, hebu tueleze kwa ufupi story inatufundisha nini.

Rutashubanyuma said:

Profesa Hirji si ni marehemu huyu?

mambo mengi anayoaongelea ya utata kwa sababu elimu hii ya mkoloni haina uwezo wa kuandaa wataalamu ambao wanajitegemea kimawazo na kimatendo kama wengi wanadhani kwa sababu mitaala yote inasisitiza kukariri na kuimarisha kumbukumbu tu....................

mbali ya hapo msisitizo upo katika kuajiriwa na badala ya kujiajiri........

vyuo vyote hawviwezi kulingana hata kama ni vya umma vyote au la.................lazima madaraja yatakuwepo tu ya kitija....................vyuo vya binafsi vina changamoto zake ikiwa kutegemea karo za wanafunzi wanaogharimia na serikali...............hatuna mabiashara makubwa ya kufadhili wanafunzi nje ya utaratibu huo.....elimu zote ziwe za binafsi au za umma lengo lake bado ni kuimarisha uchumi wa ulaya magharibi ingelikuwa si hivyo nchi zetu zingelikuwa zimeendelea siku nyingi sana.......

majibu ni kuachana na kusisitiza sana elimu ya juu kama msingi wa maendeleo na kutoa msisitizo kwenye elimu ya ubunifu na vitendo kama ufundi mchundo, sanaa, michezo ambapo mwanafunzi atapimwa zaidi kwa kutenda badala ya kupimwa uwezo wa kukariri kama ilivyo saSA HATA KESHO......

Click to expand...

Yuko MUHAS anafundisha

Rutashubanyuma said:

Profesa Hirji si ni marehemu huyu?

mambo mengi anayoaongelea ya utata kwa sababu elimu hii ya mkoloni haina uwezo wa kuandaa wataalamu ambao wanajitegemea kimawazo na kimatendo kama wengi wanadhani kwa sababu mitaala yote inasisitiza kukariri na kuimarisha kumbukumbu tu....................

mbali ya hapo msisitizo upo katika kuajiriwa na badala ya kujiajiri........

vyuo vyote hawviwezi kulingana hata kama ni vya umma vyote au la.................lazima madaraja yatakuwepo tu ya kitija....................vyuo vya binafsi vina changamoto zake ikiwa kutegemea karo za wanafunzi wanaogharimia na serikali...............hatuna mabiashara makubwa ya kufadhili wanafunzi nje ya utaratibu huo.....elimu zote ziwe za binafsi au za umma lengo lake bado ni kuimarisha uchumi wa ulaya magharibi ingelikuwa si hivyo nchi zetu zingelikuwa zimeendelea siku nyingi sana.......

majibu ni kuachana na kusisitiza sana elimu ya juu kama msingi wa maendeleo na kutoa msisitizo kwenye elimu ya ubunifu na vitendo kama ufundi mchundo, sanaa, michezo ambapo mwanafunzi atapimwa zaidi kwa kutenda badala ya kupimwa uwezo wa kukariri kama ilivyo saSA HATA KESHO......

Click to expand...

ruta unataka kuniambia ukiwa afrika hii elimu ya mkoloni haina uwezo wa kutoa wataalamu wanaojitegemea kimawazo na kiutendaji lakini ukiwa asia au ulaya inawezekana?!!!
nadhani kwa sasa msisitizo upo kotekote kwenye kujiajiri na kuajiriwa,ukienda vyuoni hasa UDSM na MUCHS utakuta kuna masomo ya ujasiliamali,tatizo nilaloliona ni ukosefu wa mitaji au niseme umbumbu wa serikali katika kugawa mitaji,mfano kumpa hoe hae "mabilioni ya kikwete" na kumuacha graduate asote mtaani ni kosa kubwa sana nililowahi kuliona!!!

hiyo bold ya mwisho sikubaliani na wewe labda kama unataka kuwafanya waafrika(watanzania) waeendelee kuwa watumwa/wafanyakazi au waburudishaji kama zamani.elimu ya juu ni muhimu sana kwa maendeleo ya nchi,nani atawasimamia hawa mafundi mchundo au waimbaji wa ubongo wa fleva kama sio wasomi makini wa elimu ya juu?labda hapa nishauri kwamba tunatakiwa tuchague fani kadhaa ambazo ni muhimu kupata elimu ya juu na tuwekeze kwenye hizo fani(tugharamie masomo ya hizi fani) na sio kama tunavyofanya sasa eti kila mtu ni elite na nilazima asomeshwe na serikali.ni heri kuwa na wasomi wachache watakaobeba dhamana ya nchi,halafu tuwe na mafundi mchundo au wachezaji wa kutosha(kwa gharama zao wenyewe) halafu wawepo wategemezi wasiojiweza kwa lolote(mara nyingi hawa ni wengi)

msafi said:

kuna ukweli katika yale aliyoandika prof karim, binafsi namkubali sana huyu professa maana hata ufundishaji wake anakufundisha uelewe na si kukalili kama ambavyo tumezoea kwa walimu wetu hapa tanzania. nakumbuka test yake ya kwanza wakti nafanya uzamili muchs, ilikuwa ni open book, lakini watu walipata negative marks, na tulipomwelewa anachotaka ni kuelewa na si kukariri, wanafunzi wengi tulimkubali. Ni hazina kuu sana kwa kuwa na wataalamu kama hawa maana hata yale aliyonifundisha yamekuwa msaada sana sana, tofauti na nilivyofundihswa na baadhi ya walimu wakati wa undergraduate.
Lakni pia kuna changamoto kati ya vyuo vya priv na pub, maana public ili vijiendeshe vinahitaji fedha na sehemu nyingine ni tuition fee za wanafunzi hivyo mwanafunzi ananyenyekewa, ndio maana kipindi kile, mwalimu wa muchs wanafunzi wanamwona mnoko kwa kufelisha wanafunzi lakini imtu au kairuki wanamsifia kwa ufundishaji na kutokusup au disco.

Click to expand...

Prof. Hirji yu hai na yupo pale Muhimbili ,ni mmoja kati ya wasomi mahili hapa nchini mwetu; mimi nilibahatika kusoma nae darasa moja huko Kibaha enzi hizo ikiwa NORDIC PROJECT!! Jamaa ni kichwa sana halafu ni mzalendo wa kutupa. Tukirudi kwenye mada yake juu ya uzoefu wake katika kufunduisha vyuo vikuu vya private na public nadhani anajaribu kutuonesha kuwa dhana ya kuwa kubinafsisha kila kitu kama tunavyoshawishiwa na world Bank na IMF sio suluhisho la matatizo yetu. Anajaribu kuonesha kuwa pale Agakhan University ingawa wanafunzi walikuwa wachache na walikuwa na mazingila mazuri ya kusoma vikiwemo vitabu na stipend nzuri hawakuwa bora kuliko wale wa Muhimbili ambao walikuwa wengi darasani na walikuwa hawana facilities za kutosha mpaka wakati mwingine ilibidi awatolee copies kutoka mfukoni mwake. Nadhani hitimisho lake ni kuwa kubinafsisha iwe kwenye elimu au katika sector nyingine sio suluhisho ya matatizo tuliyonayo kama tunavyoaminishwa na Washington concensus.

serikali inatakiwa kujifunza kwamba,kuongeza namba ya wahitimu wa chuo kikuu ambao hawana sifa sio suluhisho la matatizo yetu.wahitimu wachache walioelimika ndio watakaotutoa hapa tulipo.