Tanzania
media representatives above listen
to the then Minister for Science,
Technology and Higher Education,
Hon. Dr. Pius Ng’wandu while
sharing information on the UNESCO
general conference that took place
in Paris through videoconference
at TGDLC. |
The
former Minister for Science, Technology
and Higher Education, Hon. Dr. Pius
Ngw’andu addressed media representatives
from Paris through TGDLC on the
effective performance of the Tanzania
delegation at the 33rd session of
the UNESCO General Conference.
The talk between
media representatives and the former
Minister that took place on 12th
October 2005 was hosted by TGDLC.
Speaking from Paris, the former
Minister Hon. Ng’wandu informed
the media representatives on the
effective performance of the Tanzania
Delegation at Conference. The Conference
was opened by the Director General
of UNESCO and the Tanzanian former
Minister for Education and Culture,
Honourable Joseph Mungai, who gave
his address in Kiswahili. |
Honourable Ng’wandu
informed the gathering that our Minister’s
speech in Kiswahili was greatly applauded,
particularly by Delegates from African
Countries, and that it put the national
language on the global map.
Commending UNESCO for important achievements,
Honourable Ng’wandu praised in particular
the excellent performance of UNESCO’s
current Director General, Mr. Koichiro
Matsuura, who was re-elected for another
four (4) year term and whose re-election
enjoyed Tanzania’s full support.
He further reiterated Tanzania’s
support for UNESCO since joining the Organization
on 6th June 1962.
Hon. Ngw’andu made reference to
a few initiatives led by UNESCO, including
the Global Declaration of 2008 as the
International Year of Planet Earth and
the promotion of the Culture of Maintenance,
which in Tanzania is being implemented
at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology
(DIT).
Hon. Ng’wandu also spoke about
the different UNESCO Major Programs and
Commissions, reiterating that Tanzania
was represented in all the Commissions.
He listed UNESCO’s five Major Programmes
as being (i) – Education comprising
strengthening of Education For All EFA
coordination and planning; attaining basic
education for all; enhancing quality education;
and supporting post-primary education
systems (ii) Natural Sciences, encompassing
sciences, environment and sustainable
development; and capacity-building in
science and technology for sustainable
development (iii) Social and human sciences,
covering ethics of science and philosophy;
human rights and social transformations
(iv) Culture, embracing protecting and
safeguarding cultural heritage worldwide;
and strengthening cultural policies, cultural
industries and intercultural dialogue
(v) Communication and information, i.e.
empowering people through access to information
and knowledge with special emphasis on
freedom of _expression; and promoting
communication development and ICTs for
education, science and culture.The ensuing
questions from media representatives discussion
centred on the issue related to the work
of the different Commissions and how the
issues handled by the Commissions benefited
Tanzania, Exchange programmes in education
and training, the role of civic education,
UNESCO’s position on ICTs, impact
of ICTs on culture, and role of ICTs in
national development.
The Honorable Minister gave clarifications
to issues raised, and Mr Kowero supplemented
the Minister’s responses, particularly
on issues of ICT.
Welcoming the media representatives earlier
on, the TGDLC Director had brought to
their attention the fact that it was Hon.
Ng’wandu who had officially inaugurated
the TGDLC on 21 June, 2000.
Lastly, the Minister thanked the World
Bank Institute for having enabled the
activity to take place in particular the
Paris GDL Director Mr. Lawrence Conte.
