Tanzania: China To Finance USD 40 Million State-of-the-Art Library at UDSM
Posted on : Saturday , 4th June 2016
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is undergoing mega-infrastructural transformations that include construction of state-of-the-art modern library to accommodate over 800,000 books to be more globally competitive.
Doubling as a public library and resource centre, the library will have the capacity to host 6,000 people, a conference room and Confucius Centre that can accommodate 2,100 and 500 people respectively. The project is financed by China at a grant of 40 million US dollars (about 90bn/-).
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony also attended by the University Chancellor, former President Jakaya Kikwete, President John Magufuli said UDSM, which has a global history, aims at remaining the leading higher learning institution.
Dr Magufuli earned his Bachelor of Science in Education Degree, majoring in chemistry and mathematics as teaching subjects in 1988. He also earned his master's and doctorate degrees in chemistry in 1994 and 2009, respectively.
"I understand all the challenges and problems faced by both students and the university. I have been here and you voted me to become your president so I can address these challenges," he said when he took the podium at the university's playgrounds.
The country's oldest university and home to over 20,000 students have endured deprived infrastructures built in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. Water and sewerage systems do not work effectively any longer while roads and dormitories are in pathetic conditions.
President Magufuli announced a 10bn/- support to help improve students' hostels, but urged social security schemes also to consider investing at the university where there is a huge demand for residential accommodation.
The decision by the president followed a concern raised by the university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rwekaza Mukandala, and the chancellor, Mr Kikwete -- that the institution is in critical demand of students' hostels. "Only 30pc of our students have secured hostels, with the available hostels being in dilapidated condition.
The university's admission has jumped from the first 14 students to 7,000 students, necessitating renovation and investment in infrastructures," Mr Kikwete told the president.
He added that staff quarters for the lecturers were also in bad condition, adding that some institutions had adopted the 4G technology; the university still applied analogue technology.
The chancellor asked the president to immediately reconsider addressing the challenges faced by the university for it to retain its position at global level. Already, he said, the university had established special schools of Health; and Science and Agriculture.
The demand for improving infrastructure at the institution is projected at 42bn/-, according to the former president.
In addition, Prof Mukandala noted that about 600 lecturers at the university needed government support to further their knowledge. He went on to explain that the construction of the library will help improve academic quality at the institution.
The Minister for Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Professor Joyce Ndalichako, on her part acknowledged the government's commitment to support the construction of the library, saying it was a top priority towards the country's industrial economy process.
Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, expressed his country's continued support to Tanzania, saying the two countries have been friends for over 50 years.
He announced that a Chinese firm, Jiansi Jiangdu Construction Group Company Limited, will collaborate with the government and the university administration to complete the project in time.
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