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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 5

Written Answers - Tanzania Project.

Tom Kitt

Question:

57 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for ending the funding by Irish Aid of the primary maths upgrade project which was based at Korogure Teacher's College in Tanzania; the amount of money already spent on this project; and if he will ensure that the investment to date in the primary maths upgrade project does not become a waste of taxpayers' money. [7430/97]

Funding by Irish Aid of the primary maths upgrade project (PMUP), based at Korogwe Teachers' Training College in Tanzania, has not ended, on the contrary, Irish Aid has moved to strengthen the project and to support its integration into the primary education system in Tanzania.

The Korogwe project, which up to now has necessarily operated as an island of excellence confined to a few schools close to the Korogwe Teachers' Training College, will in future advance the teaching and learning of mathematics throughout Tanzania. In this way, it is planned to incorporate the important achievements of the Korogwe project and the expertise of its trained personnel into a coherent programme of Irish Aid support for primary education in the country as a whole.

The main impetus driving this change was the expressed wish of the Government of Tanzania to assume a strong leadership role in the process of educational reform. This is a positive development and one which is in line with recognised best practice in development aid. It is also entirely consistent with Irish Aid's partnership approach, in particular our policy of ensuring that ownership is vested in our development partners.

Representatives of Irish Aid, key personnel from the Tanzanian Ministry of Education and Culture and other Tanzanian participants met on 12 March 1997 to plan the next phase of the project.

A total of IR£647.170 has been spent on the Korogwe project between 1993-96 and the budget for 1997 is in the process of being drawn up, in conjunction with the planned activities for this year.

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