JAMBO LA MSINGI NI KUELEZA UKWELI, ILI KUPATA HALI HALISI...

Na Friday Simbaya,


Songea

MKOA wa Ruvuma hivi karibuni walikuwa na Mkutano Mkuu wa Wadau wa Kutathmini maendeleo ya elimu mkoani mwaka 2011, uliyofanyika hapa Peramiho katika Halmashauri ya Songea.

Mkutano huu ulilenga kutathmini utekelezaji wa kazi na kupima ufanisi wa shughuli za maendeleo ya elimu mkoani hapa.

Aidhi, kuanzia mwaka 2008 kumekuwepo pia mikutano ya wadau ya kutathmini maendeleo ya elimu ngazi ya wilaya/ halmashauri, kata na shule; ambao hufanyika kabla ya kikao cha tathmini ya kimkoa.

Akifungua mkutano huo mkuu wa wadu wa elimu wa kutathmini maendeleo ya elimu, mkuu wa mkoa wa Ruvuma Dkt. Christine Ishengoma aliwaambia wadau kwamba jambo la msingi ni kueleza ukweli, ili kupata hali halisi ya utekelezaji wa vitendo uliyofanyika, na sio taarifa za maandishi au maneno tu, tofauti na uhalisia.

Alisema kuwa lengo hasa la kufanya tathmini katika ngazi zote hizo ni kupima utekelezaji wa mipango na malengo waliyojiwekea kwa kipindi kilichopita; kwa kuzingitia eneo husika katika MKUKUTA, Dira ya Maendeleo ya taifa ya 2025 na Malengo ya Maendeleo ya Milenia.

“Malengo hayo ni pamoja na kupima ubora wa kazi, kubaini mafanyikio na changamoto na kujiwekea mikakati ya utekelezaji kwa kipindi kinachofuata,” alielezia mkuu wa huyo wa mkoa.

Mikutano hii imekuwa ikifanyika katika halmashauri tofauti, kwa kuhusisha ziara katika asasi za kielimu. Lengo hasa ni kujua hali halisi ya mazingira ya kutolea elimu kwa kubaini mafanyikio na changamoto zinazojitokeza katika mazingira hayo.

Aidha, mkutano wa mwaka 2011, tofauti na maka jana, unalenga katika mazingira ambayo mkoa umefanyavibaya katika matokeo ya mitihani ya elimu ya msingi na sekondari mwaka 2010. Katika Mitihani wa Elimu ya Msingi (Darasa la VII) wastani wa ufaulu kimkoa ulikuwa asilimia 48 tu, ikiliganishwa na wastani wa ufaulu kitaifa wa asilimia 53.5.

Mitihani wa sekondari Kidatocha nne, wastani wa ufaulu kimkoa ni asilimia 45.32 ikilinganishwa na wastani wa kitaifa wa asilimia 50.4.

Kufuatia hatua hiyo, Mkoa wa Mkoa wa Ruvuma Dkt. Ishengoma waliwaomba wanaohusiki na utekelezaji wawekke dhamira ya kweli ya kutekeleza kwa vitendo wa kufanya ufuatiliaji wa karibu na kuchukuwa hatua stahili.

Pamoja na masuala ya elimu, mkuu huyo wa mkoa walizungumzia pia umhuhimi wa mazingira kwa uhai wa taifa. Aliwakumbusha wadau wa kikao kwa kutunza mazingira kuwa masafi, kutunza vyanzo vya maji, misitu ya asili na kupanda mingine pale inapokosekana.

“Tunze mazingira ya shule zetu pia kwa kupanda miti, maua na ukoka ili kuboresha mandhari ya shule, kila shule iwe na bendi, viwanja na vifaa vya michezo, kuwepo pia na programu ya chakula; ili kuvutia wanafunzi kuhudhuria shule ni pamoja na kujenga afya zao” alisema.

Kwa upande wa UKIMWI, alisema ukimwi bado ni tatizo kubwa kwa Tanzania, hasa mkoa wa Ruvuma na Halmashauri zote. Mkoa wa Ruvuma bado una kiwango cha juu cha maambukizi ya VVU kwa kuwa na asilimia 6.3, ambapo kitaifa ni asilimia 5.7.



Alisema, bado taifa linaendelea kupoteza nguvu kazi ya wataalam wa sekta zote, wakiwemo wataalam wa sekta ya elimu. Aidhi, Ukimwi unamaliza jamii ya watanzania kwa ujumla wakiwemo wazazi na kuacha yatima, ambao pamoja na matatizo mengine yanayowakumba, wanaathirika pia kielimu.

Kwa kuzingatia hayo, waliwasihi wote kuwa makini kuepuka janga hili, ikwa pamoja na kupima afya kwa wale amabo bado, au waliopima muda mrefu uliyopita.

Wakati huohuo, afisa Elimu wa Wilaya Songea, mkoani Ruvuma Bw. Richard Mtoni amepiga marufuku walimu kutoka nje ya kituo cha kazi bila vibali kutoka kwa wakuu wa shule za msingi zao.

Afisa huyo wa elimu alitoa rai jana wakati wa mkutano wa kielimu wa kuthamini maendeleo ya elimu katika wilaya ya songea pamoja na kutathamini matokeo ya darasa la saba ya mwaka jana (2010) ngazi ya kata, uliyoshirikisha wadau mbalimbali wa elimu kutoka kata za Maposeni na Peramiho.

Hatua huyo ya kutaka wakuu wa shule za msingi kutoa vibali kwa walimu pindi wapoomba ruhusa kwenda mahali kutokana wilaya huyo kfanya vibaya katika mtihani wa darasa la saba mwaka jana, kwa lengo la kuinua kiwango cha ufaulu kwa watoto.

Wilaya ya Songea katika ya wilaya zilizofanya vibaya katika mtihani wa darasa la saba kimkoa kwa kushika nafasi ya ya tano katika wilaya tano za Songea Mjini, Namtumbo, Mbinga, Tunduru pamoja na yenyewe Songea Vijijini.

“Kuna utaratibu uliyzuka kwa walimu kutumia muda mwingi kufanya biashara zao binafsi kuliko kufanya kazi ya walimu wakati muda wa kazi. Utakuta mwalimu naondika kituoni kihoelela bila kumshirikisha mwalimu mkuu wake kwenda mjini kufanya kazi binfsi na kuwaacha wanafunzi bila kusoma, naweza kuta shule moja walimu watano wote hapa wametoka na waacha wanafunzi peke yao……” alisema Bw. Mtoni.

Aidha, alisema kuwa pamoja na mambo yanayoshusha kiwango cha taaluma na kiwango cha ufaulu kwa wanafunzi wa wilaya ni pamoja walimu kutojitoa kufundisha kwa moyo na kufanyakazi kwa mazoea.

Akisoma taarifa ya maendeleo ya elimu ya wilaya ya songea, afisa elimu wa wilaya (Taaluma), Bw. Vincent kayombo, alisema kuwa wilaya songea imeshika nafasi ya mwisho kimkoa katika mtihani wa darasa la saba 2010, kwa ufaulu ukilinganisha na wilaya zingine za Mkoa wa Ruvuma.

Bw. Kayombo alisema, wilaya ya songea kiwango cha ufaulu cha wanafunzi wanaomaliza elimu ya msingi kimeshuka kutoka asilimia 69 mwaka 2009 hadi kufikia asilimia 39.4 mwaka 2010, sawa sawa na asilimia 59 wahitimu waliyofeli.

Alisema kuwa kata za Maposeni na Peramiho ni mmoja za kata 16 za wilaya songea ambazo hazikufaulisha wanafunzi wa darasa la saba mwaka jana kwa kiwango cha kuridhisha ukilinganisha na Kata ya Mahenje inayoongoza kwa fanya vizuri wilayani hapa kwa miaka mitatu sasa.

Katika masomo amabayo wanafunzi wanafanya vibaya katika mitihani ya kumaliza elimu ya msingi pamoja na mosomo ya Hesabati, Sayansi, Maarifa ya Jamii na Kiingereza.

“Sisi ka walimu tunapaswa wa kuweka bidii katika kazi wetu, tunatakiwa kuipenda kazi kwa hiyo wanafunzi kwa viwango vinavyotakiwa ili tuweze kuwa kupandisha kiwango cha ufaulu pamoja na kuborasha ubora wa taaluma kwa wanafunzi, hatimaye kuleta kupandisha hadith way wailaya yetu” alisema Bw. Kayombo.

MKUTANO WA KUTATHMINI MAENDELEO YA ELIMU MKOANI RUVUMA

The Ruvuma Regional Commissioner Dr. Christine Ishengoma has urged district education leaders and stakeholders in the region to avoid presenting some cooked reports concerning education hence revitalizing education development in the region.



The regional commissioner made the appeal on Friday during the on-going- three- day meeting which started yesterday, meant to evaluate education development in the region held at Peramiho in Songea District Council.



She said that if district councils and stakeholders were able to present the correct information about education development in their respective areas, it will help to come up with right answers over the challenges that the education sector in facing at moment, hence academic refurbish.



The assessment meeting on education development is part of the regional strategic planning which is done yearly for reason of revamping education sector in the region but for this year is gathering is focusing on the bad results of both Standard VII and Form IV leaving examinations of 2010.



Ruvuma Region with the total of five districts namely, Songea Urban, Songea District, Tunduru, Namtumbo and Mbinga, is one of the regions in country which did badly both in Class VII and Form IV final examinations last year respectively.



For instance, Standard Seven results were below the average of the pass rate of 53.5 percent and also for Form IV results the region also scored below the pass mark of 50.4 percent of the national average passing rate.

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“We need to pull up our socks ladies and gentlemen to make sure that our education academic performance is raised for better in our region, because we have done badly in both standard seven and form IV results last year compared to the national set average of pass marks of 53.4 percent and 50.4 percent respectively,” she said.



The meeting main issues being discussed during the on going symposium are the situation of education sector and the library services provision in region towards the MKUKUTA, National Development Vision 2025 and Millennium Development Goals respectively.



The theme for this year is called ‘Mathematic is a good subject; it is possible to pass it’. This is because a lot of pupils dislike the subject by thinking it is difficult subject, so they decide to drop it in the process.



However, mathematics and other science subjects and English are the subjects that most of the students did badly during their final leaving examinations last year, due to the fact that there are shortages of teachers in these subjects in the region and elsewhere in the country.



On the issue of HIV/AIDS, the regional commissioner told the participants that Aids is the national disaster hence they should avoid it at all cost to reduce the prevalent rate of HIV in the region. Ruvuma region has the highest prevalent rate of 6.3 percent compared national prevalence rate of 5.7 percent; as a result the HIV is reducing the number of skilled manpower in all sectors including education dying from the pandemic.



It is also killing the community of Tanzania hence leaving a large number of orphans behind which is becoming a burden to the society and the nation at large. Dr. Ishengoma has urged them also to come forward and go for HIV Test so that can know sero-status hence leading better lives.



About environment, she also advised people to keep their environments clean, to protect water sources, to preserve the natural forests and plant trees where there’re no trees. Also schools should keep their surroundings clean by planting trees for shades, flours and keep lawns of grass clean and attractive hence reducing global warming brought by Climate Change.



The schools should have also school bands, sports fields and sports gears so that it can attract pupils to come school for better health building and also introduce school feeding programs to reduce the problem of dropouts respectively.

Ngoma ya Kiganda ni action.

Kikundi cha ngoma ya jadi cha wanalizombe cha kabila la wagoni wenye nyekundu wakijiandaa kuingia ukumbuni kwa ajili ya kutoa burudani.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Ruvuma Dkt. Christine Ishengoma akisoma hotuba yake wakati wafunguzi wa mkutano wa kutathmini elimu mkoani hapa leo katika Ukumbi wa Mtakatifu Benedktini, Peramiho wilayani Songea.

Mdau wa sekta ya elimu mkoani hapa akichangia mada wakati wa mkutano leo

FRIDAY SIMBAYA: GAZETI BORA LA MWENGE LA MACHI LIKO MITAANI SASA

FRIDAY SIMBAYA: GAZETI BORA LA MWENGE LA MACHI LIKO MITAANI SASA

GAZETI BORA LA MWENGE LA MACHI LIKO MITAANI SASA

FRONTPAGE

 Gazeti la Mwenge lipo mitaani sasa usikose kujisomea makala mbalimbali za kuelimisha kwa bei ya shilingi 500/- kwa nakala moja.Lina chapishwa na Peramiho Printing Press.

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TEACHERS LEAVING WITHOUT PERMISSIOM PROHIBITED

Songea District Education Officer (Primary) in Ruvuma Region, Richard Mtoni has called upon the head teachers in the district to discipline teachers leaving the place work without permission hence retardation of education development in the district.

The district education officer, who was also the chairman of meeting made the remarks on Monday at the education stakeholders’ consultative meeting held at Mapinduzi Primary School at Peramiho in Songea District, Ruvuma Region.

He noted that there is tendency of teachers in some primary schools who are sneaking away from work to go and do their personal business in town without the consent of their head teachers.

“This is illegal to go out of place of work when you supposed to teach pupils. From now onwards I command all head teachers from various primary schools to make sure that they keep discipline in their schools by not letting teachers go out with getting permission. Teachers must sign on permission letters to be issued by their head teachers with  concrete reasons” he said.

The educational consultative meeting was convened in order to evaluate on the development education in the district especially the poor perfermance results of standard VII examination last year.

Songea district has performed badly during the 2010 examinations for Standard VII at regional level. It became number five in position in the Ruvuma region out of the total five districts, including Songea Urban, Namtumbo, Tunduru and Mbinga and Songea itself.

Mtoni  added that this kind of situation has affected the development of education in the district whereby most of time pupils were left without learning because their teachers have gone for business elsewhere.

“Let us pull up our socks teachers and we must make sure we teaching diligently despite of the shortcomings that education sector is facing at the moment. We need to employ the spirit of volunteersip and make our children do their best in their exams hence revamping education sector in the district,” he said.

Earlier on, District Education Officer (Academic), Vincent Kayombo in his report read to the guest of honor (Ward Councillor for Peramiho), said Songea district has dropped in pass rate of Standard VII national examination results drastically from 64 percent in 2009 to 39.4 percent last year respectively.

He described this kind of performance this drastically decreased as a shame to the district and it needs a remedial resolution to make sure the pass rate is increased in near future.

“We are here today to discuss with you teachers, head teachers and parents/guardians and other education stakeholders, find out the modalities in which we can make our performance change for the better. Because this kind of performance is a shame to our district and the region at large,” he pointed out.

The subjects in which pupils performed poorly last year during Standard VII final examination were Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and English respectively.

However, the district education officer (academic), has advised teachers to employ a remedial teaching process in their schools to help children who are slow learners, hence uplifting academic performance.

He urged that the bad results of standard seven results in 2010 is pure indication that the foundation is poorly formed of standard one, two, three and four levels respectively.

On her part, the District Inspector of Schools, Tumaini Mbunda, urged teachers to be innovative by implying new methods of teaching but not just relying on old methods of teaching.

She said that teaching is process and it is a two- way- traffic, which should be  participatory not  instructional one, whereby teachers should involve pupils during lessions, not just teaching and leave.

Maposeni Ward Executive Officer (WEO), Mwisa Hamis also contributed towards the  meeting that, in order for the district to yield good results during the exams in future, there must be first of all provision of good accommodation of  teachers, good salaries and incentives whic wil attract more teachers to enter the proffesion by  improving also the school infrastructures and environment that friendly user.

He said that education sector in the district and the nation at large is facing so many challenges such as shortages of textbooks, desk, and teachers and teaching aids. The poor working condition of teachers in the country has had contributed rte failure of education system in the country especially in public schools.









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AFISA Elimu wa Wilaya ya Songea (elimu ya msingi), mkoani Ruvuma Bw. Richard Mtoni amepiga marufuku walimu kutoka nje ya vituo vya kazi kiholela bila vibali rasmi kutoka kwa wakuu wa shule zao.

Afisa elimu wa wilya huyo alitoa rai hiyo jana wakati wa mkutano wa kielimu wa kutathmini maendeleo ya elimu katika wilaya ya Songea, pamoja na kutathmini matokeo mabaya ya darasa la saba ya mwaka jana (2010) na wadau wa elimu ngazi ya kata.

Mkutano huo uliyoshirikisha wadau mbalimbali wa elimu kutoka katika kata za Maposeni na Peramiho, wakiwemo wenyeviti wa vijiji, watendaji wa kata, walimu, walimu wakuu wa shule pamoja na wazazii na walezi.

Hatua huyo yakutaka wakuu wa shule za msingi kutoa vibali kwa walimu pindi wanapoomba ruhusa ya kwenda mahali, baada ya wilaya hiyo kufanya vibaya katika mtihani wa darasa la saba mwaka jana.

Alisema kuwa ili kufanikisha malengo ya kuinua kiwango cha ufaulu kwa watoto wa shule wanaomaliza elimu ya msingi katika wilaya, ni lazima walimu waweke mkazo katika kufundisha kwa bidii pamoja na kuanzisha mafunzo rekebishi (remdedial teaching) ili kuwasaidia wanafunzi wanaoshindwa mitihani ya darasa la nne.

Alisema kuwa ili kuweza kuboresha kiwango cha ufaulu ni lazima kujenga msingi imara kwa kuanzia madarasa ya chini kabisa kwa sababu uimara wa nyumba ni msingi imara.

Wilaya ya Songea ni kati ya wilaya zilizofanya vibaya katika mtihani wa darasa la saba kimkoa kwa kushika nafasi ya tano, katika wilaya tano za Ruvuma ambazo ni Songea Mjini, Namtumbo, Mbinga, Tunduru na Songea Vijijini.

“Kuna tabia imezuka kwa walimu kutumia muda mwingi wa kazi kufanya biashara zao binafsi kuliko kufanya kazi ya walimu wakati muda wa kazi. Utakuta walimu wanaondoka vituoni kihoelela bila kuwashirikisha walimu wakuu wao kwenda mjini kufanya kazi binafsi na kuwaacha wanafunzi wakihangaika. Utakuta mwalimu anamwaandikia mkuu wake meseji anasema mkuu nipo Njombe na jiuguza baada ya kufika huko, wakati anaondoka hakumuaga mwailimu mkuu.” alisema Bw. Mtoni.

Aidha, alisema kuwa mambo yanayofanya kushuka kwa kiwango cha taaluma na ufaulu kwa wanafunzi wa wilaya ni pamoja na walimu kutojitoa kwa moyo wote kufundisha na kufanyakazi kwa mazoea.

Akisoma taarifa ya maendeleo ya elimu ya wilaya ya Songea kwa washiriki wa mkutano, Afisa Elimu wa Wilaya (Taaluma), Bw. Vincent Kayombo, alisema kuwa Wilaya ya Songea ilishika nafasi ya mwisho kimkoa katika mtihani wa darasa la saba 2010, kwa ufaulu ukilinganisha na wilaya zingine za Mkoa wa Ruvuma.

Bw. Kayombo alisema, Wilaya ya Songea imeshuka kiwango cha ufaulu kwa wanafunzi wanaomaliza elimu ya msingi kutoka asilimia 69 mwaka 2009 hadi kufikia asilimia 39.4 mwaka 2010, sawa sawa na asilimia 59 wahitimu waliofeli.

Alisema kuwa kata za Maposeni na Peramiho ni moja za kata 16 za Wilaya ya Songea ambazo hazikufaulisha wanafunzi wa darasa la saba mwaka jana kwa kiwango cha kuridhisha, ukilinganisha na Kata ya Mahenje inayoongoza kwa kufanya vizuri wilayani kwa mfululizo wa miaka mitatu sasa.

Katika masomo ambayo wanafunzi wanafanya vibaya katika mtihani ya kumaliza elimu ya msingi pamoja na somo la Hesabati, Sayansi, Maarifa ya Jamii na Kiingereza.

“Sisi kama walimu tunapaswa kuweka bidii katika kazi yetu, tunatakiwa kuipenda kazi yetu kwa kufanikisha wanafunzi kufaulu kwa viwango vinavyotakiwa ili hatimaye kuweza kupandisha kiwango cha ufaulu pamoja na kuboresha taaluma katika wilaya yetu” alisema Bw. Kayombo.

Hata hivyo, kikosi hicho cha wa taaluma wa elimu kutoka wilayani akiwemo afisa elimu wa wilaya (elimu ya msingi), afisa elimu wa wilaya elimu ya sekondari, mkaguzi mkuu wa shule za msingi, afisa elimu ya watu wazima na wengi wapo katika ziara ya kuzungukia kata mbalimbali za waliya ya Songea, ili kukusanya maoni na mapendekezo ya wadau wa elimu kwa lengo la kuinua kiwango cha ufaulu katika wilaya hiyo, pamoja na kuboresha maendeleo ya elimu, kwa kuanzia na kata za Maposeni na Peramiho.

Naye, Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Shule za Msingi, Bi. Tumaini Mbunda alisema kuwa katika shughuli zake ukaguzi wake baadhi ya shule alizo kwisha zikagua zinaonyesha kuwa walimu wengi sio wabunifu katika mambo ya kufundisha kutokana na kwamba hawana maarifa ya kutosha, wanakuwa na vitendea kazi vya kutosha shuleni lakini hawavitumii kwa wanafunzi, matokeo yake vinashikwa na mavumbi tu.

Wengi wanatumia vifaa hivyo kufundishia pindi wanaposikia kwamba wakaguzi wa shule wanakuja shuleni ndiyo unaona wanatumia kuonyesha kwamba wanafanya kazi kumbe hamna.
“Walimu wanatakiwa kutumia mbinu mbadala za kufundisha kwa kutumia mazingira yaliyopo pamoja na kuwepo kwa vifaa vichache vya kufundishia” alisema.

Mkaguzi wa shule za misingi pia, waliwaasa wazazi na walezi kukaguwa kazi za watoto wao wanavyorudi shuleni sio kutegemea walimu pekee, kwa sababu maendeleo ya watoto ni pamoja na wazazi kushiriki kukagua madaftari ya watoto wao kwa lengo lakuboresha elimu kwa watoto ni kushirikiana kati ya wazazi na walimu.

“ Wazazi na walezi hawana hata muda wa kuangalia au kukaguaa kazi za watoto wao pindi wanaporudi nyumbani kutoka shuleni, sasa wanategemea maendeleo ya watoto yatatoka wapi? Wazazi wanatakiwa kupitia katika kazi za watoto mara kwa mara kuangalia kama watoto wamesoma au laa,” alisema.

Kwa upande wake Mtendaji wa Kata ya Maposeni , Mwisa Hamis alisema kuwa ili kufanikisha lengo na adhima ya serikali ya kuboresha kiwango cha ufaulu, pamoja na kuboresha taaluma kwa wanafunzi, serikali haina budi kuboresha mazingira ya kazi ya walimu hasa walimu wanaofundisha maeneo ya vijijini.

Alisema kuwa walimu wengi hawana nyumba bora za kuishi, hawana mishahara mizuri, miundombinu ya shule sio mizuri sana na matatizo mengine mengi,kama vitabu vya kiada, upungufu wa madawati, kubadilika kwa mitaala ya mara kwa mara ambayo haiendani na kasi ya kuwapeleka walimu mafunzoni na upungufu wa walimu pia ni sababu ambazo zinazochangia kuzorotesha maendeleo ya elimu wilayani na nchi kwa ujumla.

 Wadau mbalimbali wa elimu kutoka kata za Maposeni na Peramiho wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja na maafisa kutoka idara ya elimu wilaya songea baada ya mkutano wa kielimu wa kutathmini matokeo mabaya ya darasa la saba 2010, wilayani hapa muda mfupi baada ya kumalizika kwa mkutano uliyofanyika shule ya Msingi ya Mapinduzi, Peramiho jana.

Haya ni mazingira mazuri ya Shule ya Msingi ya Mapinduzi iliyopo katika Kata Mpya ya Peramiho wilayani Songea, mkoani Ruvuma, palipofanyikiwa mkutano wakielimu kati ya wadau elimu na maafisa kutoka idara ya elimu wilayani hapa.(Hifadhi ya Mazingira keep it up!)

MITIHANI YAVUJA

Mitihani yavuja RUCO. Ni mitihani ya mwisho wa semista maarufu kama UE (University Examination)iliyoanza tarehe kumi na saba chuoni hapo imevuja kiasi cha kutaka kuanzisha vurugu. Kutoka kwa mwanafunzi mmoja wa chuo hiko alidai mitihani iliyovuja ni ya watu wanaosoma shahada ya elimu mwaka wa tatu tu.Na taarifa za awali zinaonesha zaidi ya mitihani mitatu sasa imevuja na imeonekana adharani kabla ya kufanyika.Watuhumiwa wanaohusika kuvijisha mitihani hawajafahamika lakin wako waadihli (DR 3,AL 2) watano ambao wanahusishwa na uvujaji huo wa mitihani hiyo.taarifa zaidi zitawajia pale tu zitapo patikana.


By Anonymous on MKWAWA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION on 2/22/11

Army hopes to hand Egypt to civilian rule by August

By Andrew Hammond and Peter Millership
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt's new military rulers said on Tuesday they hoped to hand power over to an elected civilian leadership within six months and that they had no desire to keep control following the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.
The remarks carried on the state agency were the clearest indication since Mubarak was forced to resign on Friday that the high command was committed to a brief timeframe for meeting the demands of pro-democracy protesters for a new start.
Some secular leaders have raised concerns, however, that racing into presidential and parliamentary elections in a nation where Mubarak had suppressed most opposition activity for 30 years may hand an advantage to the Muslim Brotherhood, probably Egypt's best organized political force.
"The Higher Military Council expressed its hope to hand over power within six months to a civilian authority and a president elected in a peaceful and free manner that expresses the views of the people," an armed forces statement said.
"The council affirmed that it does not seek power, that the current situation was imposed on the armed forces and that they have the confidence of the people," it said.
The military also decreed that a committee headed by an independent judge, Tareq al-Bishry, should finish its work within 10 days on drafting amendments to the constitution. The plan is to then put these to a referendum.
As the upheaval in Egypt sent shock waves around the Middle East, troubling global financial markets worried about oil supplies, clashes broke out in Bahrain and Yemen, neighbors of the world's biggest oil exporter Saudi Arabia.
Thousands of Iranians opposed to their government rallied in support of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia on Monday.
MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ON TV
Existing political groupings are mostly weak and fragmented. The Muslim Brotherhood, which under the now-suspended constitution could not form a party, may be the best organized group but its true popularity has yet to be tested.
"When the popular demand for the freedom to form parties is realized, the group will found a political party," the Brotherhood said in a new statement.
Signaling the transformation in Egypt, state television aired an interview with senior Muslim Brotherhood member Essam el-Erian, something unimaginable in the Mubarak era.
The Brotherhood is an Islamist group founded in the 1920s with deep roots in Egypt's conservative Muslim society. Washington has expressed concern about its "anti-American rhetoric" and said it has serious disagreements with it.
Pro-democracy leaders plan a big "Victory March" on Friday to celebrate the revolution -- and perhaps also to remind the military of the power of the street.
Uncertainty remains over how much influence the military will seek to exert in reshaping a corrupt and oppressive ruling system which it has propped up for six decades.
EMERGENCY LAWS
The military has promised free and fair elections, suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament, dismantling parts of the apparatus that kept Mubarak in power after he replaced Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated by Islamist radicals in 1981.
Wael Ghonim, a Google executive who had been detained for his part in the uprising, said military council members had told youth leaders that a referendum would be held on constitutional amendments in two months, a prelude to holding elections.
To placate pro-democracy activists, Egypt's army has pledged to lift a state of emergency in place throughout Mubarak's 30-year rule. Campaigners are impatient for this to happen soon.
On a public holiday for the Prophet Mohammad's birthday, Egypt paused for breath as the army sought to calm revolutionary fervor and get the country back to work. A dust storm deterred protests that have flared since Mubarak quit on Friday.
Facing a rash of pent-up labor demands from groups ranging from bank staff and tour guides to policemen and steelworkers, the new military rulers have urged people not to disrupt further an economy jolted by the 18-day uprising against Mubarak.
With anger smoldering over rising prices, low wages and economic hardships that afflict many of Egypt's 80 million people, the military faces a delicate balancing act in accommodating demands unleashed by the revolution.
Protests, sit-ins and strikes have broken out at state institutions across Egypt, including the stock exchange, textile and steel firms, media groups, the postal services and railways.
Raising wages and subsidies on basic goods are options the military could use to calm labor unrest, analysts said, though such measures would throw liberal economic reforms into reverse.
"There is this jubilation and exuberance of Egyptians, but the reality is there are more uncertainties than before," said John Sfakianakis, chief economist at Banque Saudi Fransi.
MAELSTROM OF MUBARAK RUMOURS
In Tahrir Square, scene of clashes between protesters and police during the revolt, traffic flowed freely on Tuesday. Army tanks and armored vehicles around the square and other Cairo locations have now been sandbagged into position.
Mubarak, 82, has not been seen in public since he resigned. He is thought to be in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where some tourists are still holidaying despite the turmoil.
With Mubarak at his seaside residence, Egyptians traded rumors about his health. Some said he was in a coma and others that he had gone for medical treatment to Germany, where he had gall bladder surgery last March.
But a source close to his family said: "He's in Sharm. and I know for sure he's in good health and he is with his family."
The United States, Britain and France said on Monday Egypt had asked them to freeze the assets of former officials. Paris and Washington said Mubarak was not on the list of officials.
(Reporting by Marwa Awad, Edmund Blair, Alexander Dziadosz, Shaimaa Fayed, Andrew Hammond, Alistair Lyon, Sherine El Madany, Tom Perry, Yasmine Saleh, Patrick Werr, Jonathan Wright and Dina Zayed; writing by Peter Millership, editing by Alistair Lyon and Angus MacSwan)

NGUVU YA UMMA YAMTOA PANGONI MUBARAK

By PAUL SCHEMM and MAGGIE MICHAEL


CAIRO – Fireworks burst over Tahrir Square and Egypt exploded with joy and tears of relief after pro-democracy protesters brought down President Hosni Mubarak with a momentous march on his palaces and state TV. Mubarak, who until the end seemed unable to grasp the depth of resentment over his three decades of authoritarian rule, finally resigned Friday and handed power to the military.

"The people ousted the regime," rang out chants from crowds of hundreds of thousands massed in Cairo's central Tahrir, or Liberation, Square and outside Mubarak's main palace several miles away in a northern district of the capital.

The crowds in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and other cities around the country erupted into a pandemonium of cheers and waving flags. They danced, hugged and raised their hands in prayer after Vice President Omar Suleiman made the announcement on national TV just after nightfall. Some fell to kiss the ground, and others chanted, "Goodbye, goodbye" and "put your heads up high, you're Egyptian."

"Finally we are free," said Safwan Abou Stat, a 60-year-old protester. "From now on anyone who is going to rule will know that these people are great."

The success of the biggest popular uprising ever seen in the Arab world had stunning implications for the region, the United States and the West, and Israel.

Mubarak was the symbol of the implicit decades-old deal the United States made in the Middle East: Support for autocratic leaders in return for their guarantee of stability, a bulwark against Islamic militants and peace — or at least an effort at peace — with Israel.

The United States at times seemed overwhelmed throughout the 18 days of upheaval, fumbling to juggle its advocacy of democracy and the right to protest, its loyalty to longtime ally Mubarak and its fears Muslim fundamentalists could gain a foothold. Those issues will only grow in significance as Egypt takes the next steps towards what the protest movement hopes will be a true democracy — in which the Muslim Brotherhood will likely to be a significant political player.

Neighboring Israel watched with the crisis with unease, worried that their 1979 peace treaty could be in danger. It quickly demanded on Friday that post-Mubarak Egypt continue to adhere to it. Any break seems unlikely in the near term: The military leadership supports the treaty. While anti-Israeli feeling is strong among Egyptians and future ties may be strained, few call for outright abrogating a treaty that has kept peace after three wars in the past half-century.





From the oil-rich Gulf States in the east to Morocco in the west, regimes both pro- and anti-U.S. could not help but worry they could see a similar upheaval. Several of the region's authoritarian rulers have made pre-emptive gestures of democratic reform to avert their own protest movements.

The lesson many took: If it could happen in only three weeks in Egypt, where Mubarak's lock on power had appeared unshakable, it could happen anywhere. Only a month earlier, Tunisia's president was forced to step down in the face of protests.

Perhaps more surprising was the genesis of the force that overthrew Mubarak. The protests were started by a small core of secular, liberal youth activists organizing on the Internet who only a few months earlier struggled to gather more than 100 demonstrators at a time. But their work through Facebook and other social network sites over the past few years built a greater awareness and bitterness among Egyptians over issues like police abuse and corruption.

When the called the first major protest, on Jan. 25, they tapped into a public inspired by Tunisia's revolt and thousands turned out, beyond even the organizers' expectations. From there, protests swelled, drawing hundreds of thousands. The Muslim Brotherhood — Egypt's powerful Islamic fundamentalist movement — joined in. But far from U.S. fears the Brotherhood could co-opt the protests, the movement often seemed to co-opt the Brotherhood, forcing it to set aside its hard-line ideology at least for now to adhere to democratic demands.

Mubarak, a former air force commander came to power after the 1981 assassination of his predecessor Anwar Sadat by Islamic radicals. Throughout his rule, he showed a near obsession with stability, using rigged elections and a hated police force accused of widespread torture to ensure his control.

He resisted calls for reform even as public bitterness grew over corruption, deteriorating infrastructure and rampant poverty in a country where 40 percent live below or near the poverty line.

Up to the last hours, Mubarak sought to cling to power, handing some of his authorities to Suleiman while keeping his title.

But an explosion of protests Friday rejecting the move appeared to have pushed the military into forcing him out completely. Hundreds of thousands marched throughout the day in cities across the country as soldiers stood by, besieging his palaces in Cairo and Alexandria and the state TV building. A governor of a southern province was forced to flee to safety in the face of protests there.

Mubarak himself flew to his isolated palace in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, 250 miles from the turmoil in Cairo.

His fall came 32 years to the day after the collapse of the shah's government in Iran.

Vice President Suleiman — who appears to have lost his post as well in the military takeover — appeared grim as he delivered the short announcement.

"In these grave circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave his position as president of the republic," he said. "He has mandated the Armed Forces Supreme Council to run the state. God is our protector and succor."

Nobel Peace laureate Mohammed ElBaradei, whose young supporters were among the organizers of the protest movement, told The Associated Press, "This is the greatest day of my life."

"The country has been liberated after decades of repression," he said adding that he expects a "beautiful" transition of power.

The question now turned to what happens next after effectively a military coup, albeit one prompted by overwhelming popular pressure. Protesters on Friday had overtly pleaded for the army to oust Mubarak. The country is now ruled by the Armed Forces Supreme Council, the military's top body consisting of its highest ranking generals and headed by Defense Minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi.

After Mubarak's resignation, a military spokesman appeared on state TV and promised the army would not act as a substitute for a government based on the "legitimacy of the people."

He said the military was preparing the next steps needed "to acheive the ambitions of our great nation" and would announce them soon. He praised Mubarak for his contributions ot the country, then expressed the military's condolences for protesters killed in the unrest, standing at attention to give a salute.

Earlier in the day, the council vowed to guide the country to greater democracy. It said was committed "to shepherding the legitimate demands of the people and endeavoring to their implementation within a defined timetable until a peaceful transition to a democratic society aspired to by the people."

Abdel-Rahman Samir, one of the protest organizers, said the movement would now open negotiations with the military over democratic reforms but vowed protests would continue to ensure change is carried out.

"We still don't have any guarantees yet — if we end the whole situation now the it's like we haven't done anything," he said. "So we need to keep sitting in Tahrir until we get all our demands."

But, he added, "I feel fantastic. .... I feel like we have worked so hard, we planted a seed for a year and a half and now we are now finally sowing the fruits."

Sally Toma, another of the organizers, said she did not expect the military would try to clear the square. "We still have to sit and talk. We have to hear the army first," she said.

For the moment, concerns over the next step were overwhelmed by the wave of joy and disbelief.

Outside the Oruba presidential palace in northern Cairo, where tens of thousands had marched during the day, one man sprawled on the grass, saying he couldn't believe it. Protesters began to form a march toward Tahrir in a sea of Egyptian flags.

Thousands from across the capital of 18 million streamed into Tahrir, where protesters hugged, kissed and wept. Whole families took pictures of each other posing with Egyptian flags with their mobile phones as bridges over the Nile jammed with throngs more flowing into the square.

Abdul-Rahman Ayyash, an online activist born eight years after Mubarak came to office, said he would be celebrating all night, then remain in the square to ensure the military "won't steal the revolution."

"I'm 21 years old," he said. "This is the first time in my life I feel free."

___

AP correspondents Hadeel al-Shalchi, Sarah El Deeb, Hamza Hendawi, Lee Keath, Marjorie Olster and Maggie Hyde contributed to this report.

KAMATI YA KUSHUGHULIKIA MGOGORO WA IVORY COAST

Tanzania imeteuli kuwa moja ya nchi TANO katika kamati ya Umoja wa Afrika kutafuta ufumbuzi wa mgogoro wa kisiasa unaoendelea nchini Ivory Coast kati ya Rais anayemaliza muda wake Bwana Laurent Gbagbo na Bwana Alassane Outtara.






Nchi zingine kaatika kamati hiyo ni Chad, Mauritania, Nigeria na Afrika ya Kusini, nchi hizi zitaungana na nchi ya Burkina Faso ambayo tayari inashughulikia mgogoro huo.






Kamati hiyo imefanya mkutano wake wa kwanza tarehe 31, Januari 2011 mjini Addis Ababa ambapo imekubaliwa kuwa kila nchi itachagua mwakilishi wake katika kamati ndogo ya wataalamu ifikapo tarehe 3 Februari ambao watakwenda nchini Ivory Coast kuangalia na kutathmini hali ilivyo.






Baada ya hapo Kamati ya wataalamu watatakiwa kutoa taarifa na ushauri kwa viongozi ambao hatimaye watakwenda Ivory Coast na kukutana na viongozi hao wawili wanaogombea madaraka.

Ivory Coast Gbagbo backers protest against African Union

ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Several thousand youths loyal to Ivory Coast incumbent Laurent Gbagbo marched through Abidjan on Saturday to protest the presence of Burkina Faso's president on a mediation panel aiming to resolve a post-election crisis.

At the end of last month, the African Union's Peace and Security Council gave five African leaders a one-month mandate to seek a solution to the violent power struggle between Gbagbo and rival presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara. Their conclusions are intended to be fastening on both sides.

Several previous AU mediation efforts have failed.

Ouattara was declared winner of a November 28 vote according to U.N.-certified results. But Gbagbo has refused to admit and has the backing of the military, which he has used to establish his position and encircle the hotel his rival is using as a base.

He has rejected huge international pressure, financial sanctions and threats of force by West African neighbors.

The Constitutional Council, which is run by a hold back Gbagbo supporter, canceled tens of thousands of votes in pro-Ouattara strongholds on grounds of deception, so Gbagbo's supporters argue he is constitutionally the winner.

"The (AU) panel cannot rewrite our constitution, it can only respect our constitution," Gbagbo's youth leader, Ble Goude, told the rally, drawing loud applause. "

The election was supposed to draw a line under years of political and military stalemate since a 2002-03 war partitioned the world's top cocoa-growing country, but has only worsened the divisions that sparked the conflict in the first place.

Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, who earlier mediated in the Ivory Coast conflict but who diplomats say is furious with Gbagbo for refusing to accept the election results, is on the African Union panel.

"No, no to Compaore!" the crowd shouted.

Gbagbo's supporters accuse Compaore of backed up the 2002 rebellion by Ivorian troops of northern origin.

"Blaise Compaore was the mediator but he has become complicit in the Ivorian crisis," Goude said.

Gbagbo has officially accepted the panel, but he has a habit of expressing his unhappiness by mobilizing his supporters to demonstrate in the streets.

(Writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Mark Heinrich)