Silent struggle: Tanzanian academics transformed into fund-raising agents for universities-6

The root of this problem lies in the decline in funding for the core functions of universities: teaching, research, and community service.

According to various studies, the Tanzanian government’s shift in priority towards basic education has led to a reduction in financial support for higher education.

As a result, public universities are increasingly forced to explore new sources of revenue and reduce costs. This financial crisis has placed academic staff under immense pressure to secure funds, impacting their primary roles and overall job satisfaction.

“We have become fundraising agents for universities rather than just teaching students,” says a professor at the University of Dar es Salaam.

“This situation requires the university to move us in this direction because there is not enough funding to operate the university’s core operations. At the same time, salaries and promotions remain a challenge.”

Dissatisfaction with salaries and promotion opportunities is widespread among Tanzanian civil servants, and university staff are no exception.

Despite their essential role in shaping the knowledge and skills of future policy makers and professionals, their demands for social protection are often ignored.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that university staff must share any research funding they obtain with the institutions which employ them, which amounts to paying double taxation: first to the government through salaries, then to the university through research contributions.

“If you manage to obtain research funding, you are obliged to share it with the institution that employs you. It’s like we pay taxes to the government (salary) and to the institution (research contribution )”, explains the professor.

“We at public universities seem to prioritize patriotism, while our families suffer.”

A senior lecturer at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) echoes the sentiment, stressing the need for government intervention.

“The government must find ways to help universities sustain themselves and pay professors salaries commensurate with the work they do. Here in Tanzania, it is the university leaders who are struggling to get funds It’s not fair.”

The pressure to generate income has discouraged many people from pursuing research opportunities, as they often conduct research in silence to avoid the financial demands of academia.

“Many of us don’t undertake much research because of this; we get discouraged,” says a lecturer at the University of Dodoma (Udom).

This problem is not unique to Tanzania. Until the mid-1990s, higher education in Africa was not considered a priority, with most education policies focusing on primary education.

The assumption was that university education would benefit individuals rather than society. A former professor at Zanzibar State University, Dr Mussa Abdi Mohammed favors the emphasis on primary education because of its wider societal benefits.

However, he recognizes the need for a balanced approach. “It is not fair that professors raise funds for public universities while their living conditions are not good due to the meager salaries they receive,” he says.

In response to these challenges, the Tanzanian government has taken steps to encourage research. In 2023, the Ministry of Education announced a Sh1 billion reward for local researchers at tertiary institutions who publish in high-impact international journals.

Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adolf Mkenda, has stressed the importance of allowing researchers to receive incentives for their work.

“We must allow researchers to receive incentives to conduct research,” he said, criticizing the practice of universities taking a share of research funds guaranteed by individual researchers.

Despite these efforts, the fundamental question remains unanswered. Academic staff continue to juggle multiple roles without adequate compensation or support.

“There is no motivation for academic staff in Tanzania. Lecturers are unable to help young professors because there is no incentive to become a lecturer, other than the respect of the community for the being an academic, but without money,” laments a professor.

The situation highlights the critical need for a comprehensive review of funding policies and support mechanisms for higher education in Tanzania.

Universities cannot thrive without motivated academic staff, and the sustainability of these institutions depends on the well-being and satisfaction of their teachers.

As Tanzanian universities strive to fulfill their educational mission, the voices of their academic staff must be heard and taken into account, according to educational consultant Dr Thomas Jabir.

“Without a conducive working environment and fair remuneration, the silent struggle of these academics will continue, impacting the quality of education and research which is vital for the development of the country,” he notes. -he.