ARUSHA TECH COLLEGE GETS SH. 1.7bn FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

 

Fast expanding Arusha Technical College (ATC) is relieved by Sh.1.7 billion recently injected by the government from the Covid-19 support funds from the donors..

By last week some Sh. 1.6 billion has been spent on building projects, thus easing congestion of students at the lecture halls and laboratories.

Expanded structures will also create more space for 148  academic staff being the lecturers, instructors, technicians and artisans and 68 support staff.

"Completion of the structures is now at 58 percent", said the Rector Dr. Musa Chacha when briefing members of the Budget Committee of the Parliament.

Projects that will benefit from the funds received  in January include construction of eight lecturer halls with the capacity to hold a total of 880 students at a time.

Six laboratories that will hold a maximum of 270 students  and 26 offices for 104 members of the staff - both academic and support staff - is another project.

"In all a total of 1,025 students and  104 staff members will be (comfortably) accommodated", he told members of the Bunge team during last week's visit to the college.

Currently, the college has a total of 4,693 students pursuing different programmes and 275 members of the staff; 146 teaching and the rest non-academic.

Dr. Chacha told Budget Committee MPs that it was clear that the Covid-19 funds from the government will be directed for the expansion projects.

The 44 year college, near the heart of the city, has registered an increase of the young learners in the past seven years which nearly compromised its capacity.

Students enrolled rose from 2,017 in 2015/16 academic year to 4,693 in the current 2021/22 academic year; an increase of 132 percent.

The college has a total of 49 academic programmes in technical training that are recognized by the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTE-VET).

"Through Covid 19 funds we will be able to offer more space to our students and lecturers which forces some lectures to be undertaken at night", the Rector said.

Earlier, the lawmakers were told that the government has channeled Sh. 64.9 billion received from Covid-19 support to the Education ministry.

The deputy minister for Education, Science and Technology Omari Kipanga said some Sh. 20 billion has been allocated to the colleges, including ATC.

The college was established in 1978 and transformed into an autonomous training institution in 2007 offering a raft of courses that include degree programmes.

The graduates were awarded basic technician certificates, technician certificates, ordinary diploma, higher diploma and Bachelor's Degree.

Besides its main campus in Arusha, it has another campus at Kikuletwa in Hai district, Kilimanjaro which offers training for technicians in hydro power and renewable energy.