The Citizen
(Dar es Salaam)
Vicent Mnyanyika
2 September 2008
Tanzania needs to train about of 20,000 engineers annually if it is to catch up with developed countries.
Presently, the country produces 500 engineers annually with a ratio of one engineer serving 5,000 people.
The chairman of the Engineer's Registration Board, Prof Ninatubu Lema, said Tanzania is facing an acute shortage of engineers against the country's 40 million people.
China with the highest world population of about 2 billion people, reportedly produces 600,000 engineers annually.
He said Tanzania needs to train more than 20,000 engineers annually in order to come closer to developed countries with the highest number of engineers.
Countries such as Japan have attained a ratio of 1:54, Vietnam 1:760, Malaysia 1:750 and Australia 1:255 compared to the Tanzanian ratio of 1:5,000.
"As a board of engineers, we plan to encourage young people in secondary schools and colleges to study science subjects, especially mathematics, to qualify for engineering courses at universities," said Prof Lema.
He pointed out that "disparities in the number of engineers and their ratio to the people are reflected in the different levels of development between Tanzania and western countries.
Speaking on the Engineers Day, Prof Lema said this year's event will be marked on September 4 and 5 in Dar es Salaam with a theme 'Infrastructure as a socio-economic tool for development: Challenges and opportunities.'
On that day, President Jakaya Kikwete will present awards from the board to best engineering student, engineering institutions in recognition of their contributions to the country's development like the college of Engineering and Technology of the University of Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agricultrure, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology and constructors.
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