CRDB Bank rallies support for Tanzania...
 
2006-09-25 08:54:53
By Felix Andrew

	CRDB Bank Managing Director Dr Charles Kimei.

Investments in education will make Tanzania to be able to compete in a globalised economy, CRDB Bank Managing Director Dr Charles Kimei said on Saturday in Mororogo.

Calling for individuals and organisations to contribute to the development of education through Tanzania Education Authority (TEA), Dr Kimei said individuals only stood a better chance to survive and compete in globalised labour market only if they have good education.

A country like Kenya had made great strides in education through contributions, he said while addressing a graduation ceremony for Form Four students at Kihonda Secondary School, which he donated1m/- and promised to offer more next year.

”Kenya has a traditional initiative commonly known as harambee where ordinary wananchi are mobilised to contribute for education. Kenyans laugh at Tanzanians because we only do harambees for weddings. We do not mobilise people to contribute for the education of our children,” Dr Kimei said.

Rapid development in East Asia over the last three decades was a result of massive investment in education from basic level to higher learning institutions, he said.
”The role of education in building the nation’s most valuable asset, which is human capital, needs no emphasis. If you want to kill a nation, just start by killing its education system,” he said.

He said the CRDB Bank is targeting this societal need because it believes returns to society are very high.

”The bank donated over 600m/- to various education development projects in the country during CRDB’s 10th anniversary cerebrations,” he said.

Besides, the bank recently contributed 25m/- for the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA), at a function held in Arusha.

He said CRDB Bank spends over 1bn/- every year to train its staff locally and abroad.

”A strong team of 851 educated and dedicated workers has enabled the CRDB to become the leading bank in the country in terms of market share and profit,” he said.

• SOURCE: Guardian