AT LEAST 70 percent of the funds in the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) projects have been allocated for construction and renovation of infrastructure across the country.

Prof Carolyne Nombo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology confirmed this yesterday during a virtual meeting with a World Bank (WB) delegation.

Prof. Nombo said that contracts worth $333million had been signed and implementation was ongoing. She also noted that the ministry has acted on recommendations from the WB review team last year, resulting in positive outcomes.

Prof Roberta Malee, WB delegation leader, explained that Mid-Term Reviews (MTR) were being conducted to identify challenges in the project's implementation and find solutions.

Among its objectives, HEET aims to increase access to higher education and improve learning environments and management.

One of the universities benefiting from the project is the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT) in Butiama District, Mara Region. The university has received 102.5bn/- to enhance its infrastructure and expand educational opportunities in the region.

Prof Bernard Mellau, MJNUAT Deputy Vice Chancellor, stated that 16bn/- of the total funding will be used to construct six buildings at the new campus in Tabora Region as part of the government’s effort to ensure all Tanzanians have access to quality higher education.

He also mentioned that the construction of 16 buildings at the Butiama main campus was underway with the project currently at 41 percent. 

He emphasized that this marks the beginning of significant changes as students from distant areas will now have access to higher education closer to home, enabling them to improve their lives and contribute to the country’s economic development.

“This project is expected to transform higher education in the country by encouraging many young people to enrol in universities and prepare for the jobs and innovations needed in the labour market,” he said.