News

By Mercy Machange, CMU                                                       

The University of Dar es Salaam has received computer laboratory equipment and three Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles to support educational undertakings and enhance teaching and learning of students with special needs thanks to the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project.

During the handover ceremony which took place at the UDSM School of Education (SoED) recently, the Deputy Vice Chancellor-Planning, Finance and Administration and UDSM-HEET Project Coordinator, Prof. Bernadetha Killian, said the vehicles and equipment were instrumental in the implementation of the University key functions and marked a significant milestone in the university's commitment to inclusive education.

“The equipment will serve better our students with special needs. They will strengthen the capacity of Centre for Disability Services (CDS) as part of our commitment to equal participation in learning and working environment to staff and students with disabilities. We currently have 164 students who require these special services”, said Prof. Killian.

She further noted that the state-of-the-art equipment received would not only enhance their learning environments but also could enable them to connect with their peers and other service providers.

“The three vehicles assist in accomplishing various activities of the project. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the government at large for their inclusion of our university in this remarkable project”, she said.

Dr. Aurelia Kimaro, who represented the Manager of the UDSM Centre for Disability Services  (CDS), Dr. Sarah Kisanga,  expressed her joy and appreciation for the essential materials provided. “Today is a moment of great happiness as we receive these materials that will greatly contribute to the sustainable development of our students with special needs”, she said.

She further stressed: “We firmly believe in inclusive education where every student has an equal right to learn. Disability should never hinder one's ability to excel. We extend our sincere gratitude to the University management and the HEET project for recognizing the importance of inclusive education and providing us with these invaluable resources”.

The Coordinator of the Centre for Disability Services (CDS), Jerome Mbago, emphasized on the transformative impact of the newly acquired materials. “These resources will bring about significant changes in our approach to inclusive education and will serve as invaluable tools in assisting our students with special needs and foster a more inclusive and accessible learning environment.” Mbago noted.

Students at CDS were also very enthusiastic about the equipment and vehicles and hoped that these provisions would greatly benefit their learning journeys as well as help them achieve their goals.

The University of Dar es Salaam is committed to continuous fostering of inclusive educational environment. The HEET project is timely and its focus on special education needs commendable as it ensures that all students, regardless of their individual needs, have equal opportunities for success and inclusivity in future.