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Speeches 2007

Radio Instruction to Strengthen Education (RISE)
Official Launch & Ribbon Cutting
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training’s Recording Studio

Venue: Zanzibar

May 3, 2007

Remarks by Ambassador Michael L. Retzer

Asalam Alaykum! (Peace be upon you! )
Waheshimiwa Wageni Waalikwa (Honorable invited guests)
Honorable President of Zanzibar, Aman Abeid Karume
Honorable Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Honorable Members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives
Mabibi na Mabwana (Ladies and Gentlemen)
Nimefurahi kuwa hapa asubuhi hii (I am happy to be here this morning. )

Good morning. Thank you all for your warm welcome. It is a pleasure to be here today with colleagues, partners, and representatives of the Government of Zanzibar. I am pleased to join you for the inauguration of the Radio Instruction to Strengthen Education program that is being carried out with funding from the U.S. Government. This educational activity will have a tremendous impact on the lives of several thousand Zanzibari children.

I would like to thank the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. Your team is doing so much to improve access to and quality of education on the Isles. We hear about your progress even in Dar es Salaam and I make sure that our colleagues in Washington, D.C. also hear about the excellent work you are undertaking here in Zanzibar.

As an example of your success, education indicators from the 2004-2005 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey show that Primary school Standard 7 dropout rates are only 3.9% for Zanzibar. Approximately 24% of females receive secondary plus education on Zanzibar. This is firm evidence of the progress Zanzibar is making as you strengthen education and work to ensure that more young women go on to Secondary School and beyond.

The RISE Interactive Radio Instruction Project is being developed with some of Zanzibar’s best teacher talent. This approach will build school readiness and a strong foundation for learning in the early grades for over 10,000 Zanzibari children in less than two years.

A key tool for the success of this activity is dynamic programming that will help children learn, grow, and think more creatively. Today’s ribbon cutting of a state-of-the-art recording studio will bring the voice of education to thousands of children via the radio. The presence of the recording studio will simultaneously enhance the skills of parents and teachers to sustain and enrich learning through interactive radio instruction. These interactive radio broadcasts will build skills in math and literacy and help children develop important life skills.

The RISE program has several unique dimensions that will be noted far beyond the isles of Zanzibar: First, it offers preschool education close to home with active involvement of the community—and especially parental involvement and support. Second, increased girls participation is anticipated for preschool and after school activities because activities will take place close to home and will be conducted by a trusted adult in the community. And finally, out-of-school time will be maximized as children play and learn through games, stories, and songs enjoyed during an interactive radio broadcast.

The United States Government is proud to contribute over 2.75 billion Tanzanian shillings during the next two years to the RISE program for this recording studio and technical support to improve education for the young people of Zanzibar. This is only one of several programs the U.S. Government provides as direct assistance to Tanzania and we have every reason to believe in the sustainable impact from this investment. On behalf of the U.S. Mission and the American people, I congratulate you and wish you continued success.

Ahsanteni sana! (Thank you all very much)