#97: Tobacco Gratitude

 Tanzania: Tobacco Firm Donates Sh 5.3 Million Textbooks to Urambo School

SECONDARY schools in Urambo District, Tabora Region face a serious shortage of science teachers, the Urambo District Education Officer Grace Monge has said. She gave the remarks at the hand-over ceremony of 860 books worth 5.3m/- to Urambo-based Usisya secondary school donated by Tanzania Leaf Tobacco Company (TLTC).

Ms Monge accompanied the chief guest at the event, Acting Urambo District Executive Director, Mr Shadrack Yomba. The event was also attended by other local and district government officials. The Officer said due to the shortage of science teachers, secondary schools in Urambo have been employing, on temporary basis, Form VI leavers who pursued science subjects.

"By so doing, we have helped to reduce the teachers' shortage to some extent, but, like elsewhere in the country, we still need a permanent solution, which is encouraging more students to opt for science subjects, because some of them will become teachers in primary and secondary schools later in life," she noted. While thanking TLTC, a major tobacco leaf buyer in Urambo District, amongst other tobacco growing Districts, she also called on other companies with operations in Urambo to consider helping various educational needs in the district.

Usisya Secondary school opened in April, 2007. Like many other schools built by villagers on self-help basis in Tabora region and other parts of the country, the school lacks the required staff quarters as well as a laboratory. Expressing his appreciation over the donation, the Acting Urambo District Executive Director, Shadrack Yomba, said his council was proud of TLTC's presence in the district because of assisting them in times of need.

"We always attain our development goals even faster than expected because you are always there to partner with us. We will always be grateful for your continued assistance," he noted. Presenting the books, the TLTC's Director of Treasury and Administration, Silvester Kapungu, said the donation was in line with the company's policy that partners with government on three major areas namely Education, Health and water.