THE Institute of Adult Education (IAE) has been urged to fast-track construction of hostels for the Alternative Education Pathway (AEP) project to improve living environment for learners enrolled in the programme.

Part of the Tanzania Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQUIP) and supported by the World Bank, the initiative helps girls who dropped out of secondary school continue their education through an alternative pathway.

 Prof. Zacharia Mganilwa, Chairman of the Institute’s Governing Council, made the call in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the opening of a five-day workshop that focused on the use of force account method for executing construction and renovation projects.

Prof. Mganilwa emphasised the urgency of providing hostels for learners, particularly those facing difficult living conditions.

 “The learners come from very challenging environments. By increasing hostel availability for those in   need, we can significantly enhance their chances of academic success by providing better living conditions,” he said.

 The chairman also urged the institute’s management to explore every possible avenue to ensure the timely construction of hostels at all SEQUIP-AEP centres. He stressed that such initiatives are critical to creating a supportive and conducive learning environment for students in the alternative education system.

The workshop aimed to equip participants with cost-effective techniques for construction and renovation through the force account method, a strategy designed to improve transparency and efficiency in project implementation.

 Prof. Mganilwa highlighted the importance of the method in ensuring that hostel construction and other facilities proceed effectively and within budget.

Last year, in line with the government’s support for the SEQUIP-AEP initiative, Assistant Human Resource and Administrative Director in the ministry of education, Science and Technology Sebastian Inoshi, representing Permanent Secretary Prof. Carolyne Nombo, praised the institute’s progress.

He highlighted that construction of eight new buildings across eight regions last year demonstrated the effective use of government funds allocated for the project.

Inoshi assured the workshop participants that the ministry would continue to provide timely financial resources to ensure   efficient implementation of the SEQUIP project.

He also listed the regions where the new buildings have been constructed as Coast, Iringa, Songwe, Rukwa, Manyara, Mtwara, Kigoma and Geita.

Furthermore, the institute had completed renovations of buildings across eight other regions namely Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma, Ruvuma, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Mbeya and Tabora.

The emphasis on expanding hostel facilities and providing adequate infrastructure aligns with the government’s commitment to supporting girls’ education and improving learning conditions in the alternative education system.