Over 1,000 Tanzanian teachers have landed jobs to teach Kiswahili at different levels in Rwanda and Burundi following the establishment of Common Market of the East African Community (EAC).
The Minister for East African Cooperation, Mr Samuel Sitta, said in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday that the two countries introduced the Kiswahili language subject after the decision by EAC member states to make it the official language of the community.
“The common market has facilitated free movement of goods, persons, labour, services and capital,” said Mr Sitta while launching TANGO Online Forum on the EAC Regional Integration Issues.
Tango refers to Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations.
Sitta said the ministry would be using the online forum to address challenges facing the EAC, saying that TANGO’s initiative would be helping government efforts to sensitize Tanzanians on how to reap the benefits of the integration.
“We at the ministry always look for wider participation of Tanzanians in the EAC integration process,” he said. Mr Ngunga Tepani, Tango Executive Director, said that the forum seeks to generate additional knowledge and evidence for deepening and widening the EAC regional integration process.
“The portal is currently hosting dialogues with resultant views and recommendations being synthesized into policy briefs and action alert notes for further engagement and advocacy by CSOs,” he said.
He said the goal of the forum is to enhance public participation, policy analysis, strategies and programmes, saying the online dialogues platform is part of intervention that reveal the emphasis that is placed by Tango on fostering citizens’ participation in development process.
Tepani pointed out that the initiative is currently supported by a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Trade Mark East Africa through Tanzania programme.
“I urge you all to use this tool to present your views, share evidence and tools to ensure that the various stages of cooperation are put or will be people centred,” he said.
AllAfrica
Leave a Reply