Kusini Kwetu

Participants of NOREC Project involving lecturers, trainers, and students from Tanzania and Norway held today at the Open University of Tanzania. During the discussion, successes and challenges were outlined in order to achieve the goals of the project. (Photo by Vincent Mpepo, OUT)

By Vincent Mpepo, OUT

The implementation of a partnership project between the Open University of Tanzania, Patandi Special Education Teachers College and universities from Norway has demonstrated positive outcomes in assisting children with special needs to improve their wellbeing.

This was highlighted during a practical training assessment discussion involving lecturers, trainers, and students from Tanzania and Norway which took place today at the Open University of Tanzania whereby achievements and challenges in achieving the project goals were identified.

Speaking during the official opening of a two days practical training assessment workshop, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the Open University of Tanzania, Dr. Dunlop Ochieng said the collaboration has yielded positive results as it is aiming in enhancing knowledge and skills in supporting children with special needs.

“I acknowledge the good work being done at Uhuru Mchanganyiko and Sinza Maalumu schools, said Dr.Ochieng.

He said the project’s execution aligns with international agreements and national laws with regard to the rights of children and people with disabilities.

He said the partnership between the institutions has helped provide Tanzanian and Norwegian lecturers and students with practical opportunities to apply what they are teaching and learning in real-world community settings on both sides.

Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work of the Open University of Tanzania, Dr. Mariana Makuu, said the collaboration has helped in identifying solutions to challenges in serving children with special needs by exchanging experiences between local and foreign participants.

“We usually conduct assessments to see if the project’s goals have been met and to identify challenges so that we can find ways to resolve them to ensure the project succeeds,” said Dr. Makuu.

She also highlighted the importance of having social workers in primary and secondary schools that will assist in children’s welfare services as teachers have the responsibility to implement the curriculum and cannot fully address children’s well-being.

A tutor from Patandi Special Education Teachers College Leah Makundi, said the partnership has helped her gain experiences and skills towards the use of alternative teaching methods and guiding students without resorting to corporal punishment.

“They have helped us find alternative ways to guide and direct children without using a stick,” said Makundi.

She said as tutors they are trying their best to teach teachers to stop beating children instead they are suggesting the use of alternative methods that will help them understand their mistakes and learn trough those mistakes.

A student from Norway, Erlend Hoibo, said their presence in Tanzania for the time they have served has provided many learning experiences including how teachers make the best use of limited resources to educate children with special needs something which demonstrates care and compassion.

“I believe they need more support and the government should employ social workers to facilitate teachers’ work in providing appropriate services to the children,” said Hoibo.

He also admired the cooperation between children with and without special needs and how they assist each other regardless of their disabilities reflecting a sense of love and mutual responsibility.

According to a trainer in the Department of Sociology and Social Work from the Open University of Tanzania, Fauzia Kitenge, the assessment involves receiving feedback from Norwegian students conducting their practical training activities in five schools located in Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

“The involved schools are Uhuru Mchanganyiko and Sinza Maalumu in Dar es Salaam while in Arusha, we have Patandi Primary and Secondary schools with and Kiloleni,” said Kitenge.

She said their practical training activities will include workshops on various topics in the selected schools including child protection, children’s rights and any other issues beneficial to child welfare.

Assistant lecturers from the Department of Sociology and Social Work of the Open University of Tanzania, Robert Makungu and Asia Namamba, presenting a topic on the importance of Ubuntu philosophy which emphasizes the principles of humanity, compassion, and love among members of the community during a debate on the evaluation of practical training involving lecturers, trainers, and students from Tanzania and Norway, held today at the Open University of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam. (Photo by Vincent Mpepo, OUT).