DAR ES SALAAM: THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure has urged the government to increase investment in transport sector colleges to improve training capacity and boost institutional revenue.
Speaking yesterday, the committee’s chairman, Selemani Kakoso, said the government should ensure that institutions under the transport ministry upgrade their learning environments to meet international standards and strengthen their ability to attract foreign students.
“We have observed that most of the facilities in these institutions, particularly buildings, are not satisfactory. We therefore urge the government to support institutions under this ministry by increasing investment so that they can enrol more students and boost their revenues,” Mr Kakoso said.
His remarks came as the Rector of Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), Prof Tumaini Gurumo, outlined several infrastructure and training upgrades currently underway at the institute.
She said improving infrastructure, training facilities and accommodation in the colleges would enhance the quality of education while enabling the institutions to compete with similar training centres in the region and beyond.
Prof Gurumo noted that well-equipped transport sector colleges have the potential to attract students from neighbouring countries, strengthening Tanzania’s position as a regional hub for specialised transport training while generating additional revenue for both the institutions and the government.
She said that in the 2025/26 financial year, the institute allocated 1.097bn/- to implement two major development projects aimed at improving infrastructure and training facilities.
The first project involves the development of a new campus at Kimbiji in Kigamboni District to address the growing demand for larger training space.
According to Prof Gurumo, the planned facility will be a state-of-the-art maritime training centre designed to match the modern equipment and expertise already available at the institute.
Funds allocated in the current financial year are being used for the pre-construction phase, including preparation of architectural designs for the first phase and procurement of a contractor.
She added that a consultant has already been appointed to oversee the process and construction is expected to start in July during the 2026/27 financial year.
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“Our expectation is that within one to two years the services we currently provide will have been moved to the Kimbiji location,” she said.
The second project involves the development of another DMI site in the Kikwetu area of Lindi Region, where the institute owns a 10-hectare coastal plot.
The facility is intended to support training for fishermen on maritime safety as well as the construction of modern vessels.
Meanwhile, the government, through the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), has purchased, delivered and installed a modern training system worth 7.0bn/- at the institute.
The system includes a bridge simulator, engine simulator, high-voltage training equipment and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
In addition, DMI has procured modern workshop equipment worth 740m/-, which Prof Gurumo said has significantly strengthened practical training by enabling students to learn and conduct experiments using equipment similar to that used in the maritime industry.