TANZANIA Institute of Education (TIE) has launched the second intake of the Postgraduate Diploma in Curriculum Design and Development in Africa.

The programme was launched in Dar es Salaam by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Mr Celestine Gesimba. The Director General of TIE, Dr Paul Mushi, said the programme designed to offer quality education through quality curriculum will involve students from 19 countries in Africa.

According to Dr Mushi, the countries include Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Mozambique, Zambia, Guinea Bissau, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Other countries are the Gambia, Philippines, United Kingdom, USA, Ghana, Egypt, Haiti and Tanzania. He said the Programme will take nine months at the Open University of Tanzania.

"The initiative is jointly implemented by my Institute, Open University of Tanzania and UNESCO," he said adding that the programme targets professionals from education bodies. Launching the programme, the Acting PS, Mr Gesimba, said that it will encourage governments, education partners and institutions to mobilize and focus their resources in a coordinated way to meet quality basic education.

"Introduction of this programme is a crucial intervention in the challenges facing curriculum development and delivery of quality education in our countries," he said and commended founders for setting up the initiative. The first intake was launched in 2011 and it involved students from 17 countries.