'Sex Play' in kindergartens - Watanzania mpooh!!

Norwegians woke up Tuesday morning to news that a respected Oslo pre-school teacher, backed by child psychologists, thinks children should be allowed to openly express their own sexuality, not least through sex play and games in the local day care centers known as barnehager, or kindergartens.

The vast majority of Norwegians send their children from the age of one to the kindergartens, where they spend their days until they begin school at age six.

Pia Friis, leader of the popular Bjerkealleen Barnehage in Oslo and a well-known pre-school educator, told newspaper Dagbladet on Tuesday that children should be allowed to express their own sexuality at day care centers. She doesn't want to stifle what comes naturally.

Children, she said, should be able "to look at each other and examine each other's bodies. They can play doctor, play mother and father, dance naked and masturbate.

"But their sexuality must also be socialized, so they are not, for example, allowed to masturbate while sitting and eating. Nor can they be allowed to pressure other children into doing things they don't want to."Friis said there's a lot of uncertainty around how day care center employees should handle children's sexuality.

"The only thing that is absolutely certain is that children, sooner or later, will play sexual games and examine each other at the kindergarten," she told Dagbladet. "When the personnel are uncertain, that passes on to the children, and it can be negative."

The issue is the topic of an article in the latest edition of the magazine published by Norway's industry association for privately owned kindergartens, PBL-nytt, and Friis thinks it's important. So do child psychologist Thore Langfeldt and family therapist Jesper Juul. "Children must learn about sexuality, otherwise things can go very wrong," said Langfeldt. "Children can't object to something they don't know about, and children can more easily and readily report assaults if they already are aware of their own sexuality." Juul conceded that "many are disturbed by children's sexuality, but I think it's important to put it on the agenda. That, in fact, is what we're doing."

While Norwegians are known for being liberal and tolerant, the issue already has sparked heated debate on radio programs and in online opinion forums. And some politicians are outraged, not least those on the conservative side. "I thought at first that this was a joke," said Karin Ståhl Woldseth, a spokesman on family issues for the Progress Party.

"Sexual games don't belong in a kindergarten," she declared. "Children don't need more exposure to this in kindergartens. We think it will damage their health."

Source: Aftenposten English Web Desk

SHUKRANI KWA FARAJA ZENU

Hi TASAO!

Napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwashukuru wote kwa kunifariji katika kipindi hiki kigumu cha kufiwa na mama yangu mzazi ambaye aliaga dunia tarehe 07.08.2007saa tano usiku ghafla, nawashukuru wote kwa mkono wa pole na nawaombea kwa mwenyezi mungu awazidishie saba mara sabini.

Sisi tulimpenda sana mama yetu mpendwa lakini mungualimpenda zaidi, jina lake lihimidiwe na mungu ailazemahali pema roho ya mama yetu mpendwa.

Nawatakia wote masomo mema na kazi njema, mwenyezi Mungu awatangulie katika kila jambo mnalofanya.

Mzee wa mawe,

James Apolkarpi

Mob#: +255 754 588706

Email: james2001tz@ yahoo.com
03.09.2007

Kwa wanaopenda kujiendeleza kielimu!

MSc & PhD study opportunities in Norway!

The government of Norway provides sponsorship to over 500 students from the developing world for Masters and PhD programs at various 46 Universities/ colleges in Norway every year. Experience shows that Tanzania get 50 positions (over 10%) of these places since most of Tanzanians go back after completing their studies.

1. All Tanzanians who are interested are called to apply. AtNIMR there are opportunities for Scientists and other staff. See the list of 46 Universities below. I have to say that please let as many people you know as possible apply (even outside of NIMR) - as most people may not have this information. In each University, there are procedures for application -the web page in Norwegian (click English) - to see the info in English. Then go to prospective students, then choose Quota program then make two choices. Initially you will fill in preliminary appl. - then they will send you the appl. forms through email.

2. Academic requirements: Basic training with General Pass Average (GPA) of 3.5 (Upper Second) and above - those with 1st Class usually are selected as policy. In addition, indication of Work experience is important. (Not mandatory as there are many Masters’ students studying here just fresh from Schools in Tanzania.

3. Sponsorship: These programs are fully sponsored. Education in Norway is free- so no tuition fees! The government will give you stipend to support food, travel accommodation etc. There are three main sponsorship arrangements:
I. Quota- this is the largest-
II. NOMA (formerly NORAD) - this is mainly for Masters and students do their studies either in South Africa or Makerere – Uganda but get funds as if they are studying in Norway.

4. Deadline for Application is 1st of December. All application forms together with letters of support, original certificates and other information should reach the Universities by this date.

5. Best places for NIMR Scientists/ Support staff.
i. University of Bergen
ii.University of Oslo
iii.University of Trøndheim
iv.University of Trømso

For Administrators at NIMR- Masters of Public Administration in Bergen and Oslo are very good courses- there are students from Mzumbe, from Uganda, Ghana etc.

6. PhD Program requirements: A protocol addressing priority problems is needed. From experience- Universities in Norway don’t accept other Masters from other countries for PhD directly- you will need one year to be assessed for Masters and in the second year you can switch to PhD program. If you have Masters in Norway you will be accepted directly- PhD prog. is three years- If you have Masters from elsewhere PhD prg. is 4 years. In the PhD prog. while studying in Norway req. is publication of 3 or 4 articles in peer reviewed journals.

7. If you are interested- or you have relative or friend, someone you know, with good qualifications- please pass the info. If you are unable to get the forms- feel free to contact TASAO or any Tanzanian student studying in Norway.

We encourage as many Tanzanians as possible to apply!

Academic institutions in the Quota Scheme

1. Universities Norwegian University of Life Sciences http://www.umb.no/

2. Norwegian University of Science and Technology http://www.ntnu.no/

3. University of Bergen http://www.uib.no/

4. University of Oslo http://www.uio.no/

5. University of Stavanger http://www.uis.no/

6. University of Tromsø http://www.uit.no/

7. National academies of the arts Bergen National Academy of the Arts (KHIB) http://www.khib.no/

8. Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHIO) http://www.khio.no/

9. Akershus- http://www.hiak.no/

10. Bergen http://www.hib.no/

11. Bodø http://www.hibo.no/

12. Buskerud http://www.hibu.no/

13. Finnmark http://www.hifm.no/

14. Gjøvik http://www.hig.no/

15. Harstad http://www.hih.no/

16. Hedmark http://www.hihm.no/

17. Lillehammer http://www.hil.no/

18. Molde http://www.himolde.no/

19. Narvik http://www.hin.no/

20. Nord-Trøndelag http://www.hint.no/

21. Oslo University College http://www.hio.no/

22. Sami http://www.samiskhs.no/

23. Sogn og Fjordane http://www.hisf.no/

24. Stord/Haugesund http://www.hsh.no/

25. Sør-Trøndelag http://www.hist.no/

26. Telemark http://www.hit.no/

27. Tromsø http://www.hitos.no/

28. Vestfold http://www.hive.no/

29. Volda http://www.hivolda.no/

30. Østfold http://www.hiof.no/

31. Ålesund http://www.hials.no/

32. Barratt Due Institute of Music http://www.barrattdue.no/

33. Bergen Deaconess University College http://www.bergendsh.no/

34. The Norwegian Academy of Music http://www.nmh.no/

35. The Norwegian School of Economics and Business Admini stration http://www.nhh.no/

36. The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science http://www.veths.no/

37. The Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education http://www.nih.no/ (Wamesitisha zoezi la kuchukua wanafunzi kwa mwaka huu)

38. The Norwegian School of Management http://www.bi.no/

39. The Norwegian College of Eurytmy http://www.eurytmi.no/

40. The Norwegian School of Theology http://www.mf.no/

41. The Norwegian Teacher Academy http://www.nla.no/

42. The Oslo School of Architecture and Design http://www.aho.no/

43. Queen Maud`s College http://www.dmmh.no/

44. Rogaland College - http://www.diakonhjemmeths.no/

45. The Rudolf Steiner College of Education http://www.rshoyskolen.no/

46. The School of Mission and Theology http://www.mhs.no/

SHEREHE MAALUM YA KUWAAGA WANA TASAO WANAOREJEA NYUMBANI BAADA YA MASOMO YAO - 30.04.2007

Rais wa TASAO (kushoto) akiwa pamoja na Mgeni rasmi Michelle Nysæter - QUOTA Students Coordinator Oslo University (katikati) na Nina Josephsen (kushoto) - NORAD students Coordinator

RISALA YA RAIS WA TASAO KWA WANA-TASAO WANAOREJEA NYUMBANI BAADA YA MASOMO YAO

TANZANIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION - OSLO
The Farewell Speech to the Home Returning TASAO Members – 2007

To the Guest of honour, Mrs. Michele Nysæter – Senior Executive Officer and Quota Students Coordinator from the University of Oslo,
Distinguished guests,
Friends and Family and,
Of course, the graduating colleagues of 2007,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to say “habari zenu” (Hello) to every body.

Dear guest of honour
On behalf of the TASAO leadership, the outgoing and the remaining members I would like to say thank you for accepting our request to be the guest of honour today. With one heart, we say Ahsante na Karibu sana! (Thank you and you are very much welcomed) to our First TASAO Farewell Party – 2007.

TASAO is an acronym that stands for Tanzanian Students Association - Oslo was established on 6th of January, 2007. Currently it has 35 members among which some are seated in our midst and soon will be leaving for home – Tanzania after completing their studies from various learning institutions in Oslo. As for now, our organization is not yet registered but we look forward to have it registered as soon as possible.

The motives behind starting our organization among many other were to;

To foster unity and friendship among Tanzanians studying in Oslo

To provide a forum for discussion of issues pertaining to Tanzanian students in Oslo

To promote understanding between TASAO and other organizations

To foster cultural and social ties with all peoples of Tanzanian descent in and around the Oslo community

To promote solidarity of Tanzanians with other foreign students

To help incoming Tanzanian students settle and achieve their educational objectives while in Oslo community

To strengthen and consolidate the existing friendly relationship between Tanzania and Norway

To act on other matters related to the aims and objectives as stated above

Our being here is part of the implementation of those objectives.

To the Guest of honour!
We would like to ask you to convey our sincere thanks to the government of Norway through the QUOTA state fund Office for their support to us. We appreciate of their financial assistance which contributes a lot to our upkeep in this country. These students whom we are gathered here for are some of the beneficiaries of the program. Everybody understands that education and especially higher education in Europe is expensive, and if we were to pay everything from our pocket, very few of us could afford. Thanks to QUOTA that has continued giving us a hand of support to study in Norway. We also request this body to continue supporting students from developing countries as most of these countries are not able to finance their students.

Now let me say something to our colleagues who will soon be returning home – Tanzania.

To the leaving students
First and foremost we would like to congratulate you for your achievements and the levels of education you have attained. We understand that it was not easy for you to climb the ladder of education, but by God’s grace and your personal effort you have made it. Once again we say congratulations.

You have today gathered us here to celebrate with you one of the great days of your lives. You are leaving and you all are commencing—you are beginning. Today is your birthday, the birthday of practicing what you have acquired from school. We participate today in the rite of passage by which you are released from this life of preparation into that life for which you are now as prepared as anyone ever is.

Remember, every life speaks to the power of what can be done. The level of education you have attained should not make you relax and assume that the world is all around you. Your PhD without publications will be useless; your master degree without reasonable output will be a shame to your lectures and wastage of your days that you have spent here in Oslo. Our nation, your family and friends all look up to you with great expectation upon your return. They are expecting to see the good bestowed fruits of Norway coming out of you. Failure to deliver the best is letting down the education offered by the Norwegian academic institutions and the resources that have gone into educating you in these institutions.

As the great writer James Baldwin said: "…Your crown has been bought and paid for. All you have to do is put it on your head…." And so is your education someone, somewhere paid for it, make use of it for the benefits of our nation – Tanzania and the world at large.

Dear outgoing TASAO members!
As you stand at the gate of the future, we would like to share with you a piece of information about the life ahead of you. Turn your wounds into wisdom. You will be wounded many times in your life. You will make mistakes in your new offices and various places of work. Some people will call them failures but get to learn that failure is really God's way of saying, "Excuse me, you're moving in the wrong direction." It's just but an experience, just an experience.
Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event over which we have no control and deal with it and then move on with our lives. It helps distinguish us from animals. No matter what hyenas sound like, they are not actually laughing.

Ladies and gentlemen, there are difficulties you are going to meet from here on, one of them is unemployment. But as said before, laugh at it and take action to counteract it. School has taught us to become very self reliant, remember the “Siasa Ya Ujamaa na Kujitegemea” policy. Though it looks like one of the dead policies, still its values hold water. The era of relying on the government for our daily bread are now over, we need to stand on our own feet and cultivate the earth for out of it comes the bread. Make use of your knowledge to earn your bread. We know that some of you are looking forward to be employed by certain organizations, do not be surprised that your dreams of being employed by that organization turns into a nightmare. However, do not give up press on another door will open somewhere.

To the women, Norway has been a good example of how women fight for their rights. We have seen their achievements from school point of view to politics. They are highly impressive. If you were looking for an example, you have got it; Norway is the best example to follow. Understand: every attack on a woman for not knowing her place is an attack on you. Don't underestimate yourself, but come forth and stand for the women’s rights. Do not let men take your positions just because you are not able, who said that?

Lastly but not least we are all aware of the corruption problem in our country. Let us be the watchdog to this problem. To avoid its temptation, we need to learn to be contented. The desire to have in excess is what has made many elite people engage into corruption. We urge you therefore to act like none of them, be good examples where people can learn from the good values of life.

With these words I (We) want to say FAREWELL DEAR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS!!
We will miss you. One way or another, you have had quite an impact on this place and our life in general. And you will leave quite a big gap here. We shall remember you for being responsible. We shall remember you for being supportive and very concerned over fellow students’ / Tanzanians’ affairs. We shall always remember the way you helped us when we got stuck academically and for the orientation you gave us around the Oslo City! Most of all, we will remember you for being great persons to have around. We say thank you so much and wish you a prosperous life and a safe journey back home.

God bless TASAO! God bless Tanzania, AMEN!

The President,
Tanzanian Students Association – Oslo
30thApril, 2007