Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba Urges Education Institutions to Protect Quality as Tanzania Showcases Skills and Innovation
By Selemani Nambimbi, CMU
The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba has urged education institutions, including the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), to uphold academic standards and protect the foundations of quality education rather than lowering them in the name of making learning easier or more accessible.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while closing the National Education, Skills and Innovation Exhibition Week at Usagara Secondary School grounds in Tanga, where he commended UDSM and other participating institutions for showcasing talents, research, skills and innovations aimed at addressing challenges facing society.
“We have witnessed the good work being done, particularly through the continuation of this initiative. I commend the Ministry, various institutions and the private sector for your participation and efforts to advance education, science and technology,” Dr. Nchemba said.
He said the exhibition had provided an important platform for young people to demonstrate their abilities, exchange knowledge and gain exposure to new ideas, stressing that efforts to expand access to education must not come at the expense of quality.
“Let us not create conditions that make learning easier at the expense of the foundations of education. We must uphold educational standards. There are critical areas, such as the health sector, where we cannot compromise because we cannot play with the health of Tanzanians,” he said.
Dr. Nchemba, who is also an alumnus of UDSM, having earned all his academic degrees, including his PhD, from the university, also called for greater recognition and nurturing of individual talents, urging young people to identify their strengths and pursue fields that match their abilities rather than being pushed into disciplines that do not suit their potential.
“God has given us many different talents, so we should not force talents,” Dr. Nchemba said.
His remarks underscore the growing importance of education systems that not only expand opportunities for learners but also maintain the knowledge, skills and professional standards needed to produce competent graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
Reforming education to equip young people
Earlier, the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, said the Government was reforming education to equip young people with relevant knowledge, skills and competencies for today’s changing world. Speaking in Tanga on August 24, 2026, he stressed that education must empower youth to create jobs, secure employment and contribute to national development.
He said the Government would continue working with education stakeholders, researchers, innovators and the private sector to ensure knowledge and innovations are translated into employment opportunities, increased productivity and sustainable economic growth under Tanzania’s National Vision 2050.
UDSM longstanding commitment to academic excellence
For UDSM, the message of the Prime Minister and that of the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, resonated strongly with its longstanding commitment to academic excellence and quality assurance.
The Director of the UDSM Quality Assurance Unit, Prof. Donatha Damian Tibuhwa, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye, said the University would continue to safeguard academic standards at every stage of the education process, emphasising that quality could not be sacrificed in the pursuit of wider access.
“UDSM will continue to uphold the foundations and standards of education at every stage of the provision of education. We cannot lower standards on the pretext of making education more accessible, because doing so could undermine the quality of graduates and their contribution to nation-building,” Prof. Tibuhwa said.
She said UDSM regarded quality education as the foundation for producing professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills and capacity to respond effectively to the complex challenges facing the country.
“Quality education is essential to producing competent professionals who can apply knowledge and skills to address the challenges facing our nation. UDSM will therefore continue investing in the quality of teaching, research and innovation,” she said.
Prof. Tibuhwa also commended UDSM researchers, innovators, students and other participants for their active contribution to the National Education, Skills and Innovation Exhibition Week, saying their participation demonstrated the University's role in translating education, research and innovation into practical solutions for society.
The exhibition brought together education and training institutions, innovators, researchers, students and other stakeholders, creating a platform for showcasing emerging ideas, exchanging knowledge and highlighting the contribution of education, science, skills and innovation to Tanzania's development.
For UDSM, the event provided another opportunity to demonstrate that academic excellence is not only measured by what is taught in classrooms, but also by how knowledge, research, talent and innovation are transformed into solutions that respond to real challenges in society.