The Tanzania Education Authority (TEA) has committed about TZS1.3 billion for the construction of a student hostel at the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) Pujini Campus in Pemba, in a move expected to ease accommodation challenges and improve the learning environment.
The investment is part of efforts to strengthen education infrastructure and expand the capacity of institutions to provide quality training to students and public servants.
The project follows the signing of a special cooperation agreement between TEA and IPA on September 8, 2026, paving the way for construction of the hostel.
TEA Director General Dr Erasmus Kipesha said the investment reflected the authority’s commitment to supporting education projects that improve both the quality and accessibility of learning facilities.
He said TEA, as a Union institution, had a responsibility to contribute to improving teaching and learning conditions across the country.
Dr Kipesha urged IPA to ensure the project begins and is completed within the agreed timeframe, stressing the importance of delivering value from the investment.
“We believe that once completed, this project will improve the efficiency of learning and teaching, increase the college’s capacity to provide services to citizens and strengthen training services for the development of the education sector,” Dr Kipesha said.
The hostel is expected to provide much-needed accommodation for students at the Pujini Campus, reducing the pressure associated with limited housing facilities and enabling learners to devote more time to their studies.
IPA Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Hamad Khamis Said said the project would have a direct impact on students’ welfare while also supporting the institution’s broader academic and professional training programmes.
He said improved accommodation would create a more conducive environment for students as well as public servants who attend training programmes at the institution.
Dr Said also acknowledged TEA’s previous contribution to the development of the campus, citing a grant provided during the 2021/22 financial year for the renovation of the computer laboratory and purchase of computers.
“The construction of this hostel is very valuable to us and will leave a lasting legacy for future generations. We thank TEA for continuing to be part of the improvement and development of our college,” he said.
The TZS1.3 billion project is expected to increase accommodation capacity at the Pujini Campus and complement other investments aimed at improving infrastructure and the quality of training provided by IPA.
The development is also expected to strengthen the campus’s ability to serve students and public servants from Pemba and beyond, supporting the broader goal of building a more effective and skilled public sector.