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UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

05/14/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/15/2025 15:15

UNESCO and SIHOO partner to improve teaching conditions with ergonomic chair donation in Tanzania and Zanzibar

In a move aimed at enhancing teaching and learning environments, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Shenzhen Sihoo Intelligent Furniture Co., Ltd. (SIHOO) have donated 400 ergonomic chairs to schools and education ministries in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. The initiative also included the distribution of over 500 school bags, notebooks, and pens to support students in both regions.

The donation forms part of a broader effort to improve the physical working conditions of teachers and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The first handover ceremony took place on April 25, 2025, at Dodoma Secondary School, where 265 ergonomic chairs were presented to officials from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and 13 selected upper secondary schools in the Dodoma and Morogoro regions.

Speaking during the event, Dr. Lyabwene Mutahabwa, Commissioner for Education at MoEST, who received the donation on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, thanked SIHOO for their contribution, noting that the chairs would significantly improve teachers' comfort and productivity.

UNESCO and SIHOO partner to improve teaching conditions
UNESCO
This donation comes at a time when we are working to create more conducive teaching and learning environments across the country. It is a welcome support that will go a long way in motivating our teachers.
Dr. Lyabwene Mutahabwa
Commissioner for Education, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Representing SIHOO, Chairman Jack Luo and Overseas Department Director Alex Chen emphasized the company's commitment to education. "What SIHOO donates is not just chairs, but a safeguard of the professional dignity of teachers," Mr. Luo said.

Dr. Emmanuel Shindika, Director of Secondary Education at PO-RALG, also attended the ceremony and reaffirmed the government's appreciation for the support from UNESCO and SIHOO.

A similar handover was held on April 28, 2025, at Hasnuu Makame Secondary School in Zanzibar, where 135 chairs were donated to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) and six upper secondary schools. An additional 200 school bags, notebooks, and pens were distributed to learners.

Zanzibar's Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Hon. Lela Muhamed Mussa, officiated the ceremony and praised the partnership for addressing a critical need in the education sector.

UNESCO and SIHOO partner to improve teaching conditions
UNESCO
This initiative is not only practical but also symbolic. It shows that investing in the comfort and health of our teachers is essential to the success of our learners.
Hon. Lela Muhamed Mussa
Zanzibar's Minister of Education and Vocational Training
The event in Zanzibar was also attended by Mr. Li Qianghua, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate, who highlighted the importance of China-Tanzania cooperation, particularly in the education sector.

The donations coincide with the 71st anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Republic of Tanzania and the People's Republic of China, observed on April 26. UNESCO officials noted that the collaboration reflects the potential of strategic public-private partnerships to address pressing educational needs.

The initiative is also set to continue with further capacity-building activities. From May 19 to 23, 2025, UNESCO will facilitate a training workshop on digital teaching and 21st-century skills for teachers and managers at the Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), under the Better Education for Africa's Rise (BEAR) II project.

The UNESCO-SIHOO donation is being hailed as a timely and meaningful contribution to improving education delivery in Tanzania and Zanzibar, especially as the region seeks to modernize its education infrastructure and better support its teaching workforce.
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