Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) on Thursday, November 2, 2023, launched a Digital Clubs Handbook to facilitate establishment and coordination of digital clubs in schools, colleges, and universities in the country.

The launch event, which took place at the University of Dar es Salaam Main Library Conference Room, was officiated by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, Mr. Mohammed Khamis Abdulla.

In his remarks, Mr. Abdulla said that the Government is in the process of completing a Policy for Startups in the country, and that digital clubs play an important role in encouraging students to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and develop digital economy skills that they need so as to succeed socially and economically in the 21st century.

He congratulated TCRA for authoring the Digital Clubs Handbook, which will provide guidance to schools, colleges, and universities on how to start and run digital clubs.

Speaking at the event, TCRA Director General Dr. Jabiri Bakari said that Digital Clubs Handbook is designed to enable students learn about and develop skills in ICTs and digital economy.

He also remarked that digital clubs can help students become responsible digital citizens and contribute to the development of digital Tanzania.

Dr. Bakari noted that TCRA launched the idea of Digital Clubs in Colleges and Universities in 2022, and that the initiative has since been expanded to include colleges and universities and now it’s envisaged to expand to all educational institutions.

He said that TCRA is collaborating with TAMISEMI, the Ministry of Education, TCU, and NACTVET to ensure that educational institutions across Tanzania support digital clubs initiative for the good of country’s digital and blue economy initiatives.

The inaugurated Digital Clubs Handbook provides information on the following topics:

• What is a digital club?
• Why start a digital club?
• How to start a digital club
• How to run a digital club
• Activities for digital clubs
• Resources for digital clubs

During the inaugural event the Permanent Secretary also inaugurated digital clubs registration portal through which students can be registered, the portal is available through https://digitalclubs.tz/.

Bakari identified benefits of Digital Clubs as offering a number of benefits to students, including:

• Increased awareness of ICTs and the digital economy
• Opportunities to develop ICT skills
• Opportunities to learn about responsible digital citizenship
• Opportunities to contribute to the development of digital Tanzania

Digital clubs can also provide students with a platform to network with other students interested in ICTs, to collaborate on projects, and to learn from each other.

Goodluck Paul a graduate of university of Dar es Salaam said the launch of Digital Clubs Handbook is a positive step towards promoting youth innovation and digital skills development in Tanzania.

A Makambako based ICT technician Mr Tetrino opined that the handbook will enable schools, colleges, and universities to provide students with opportunities they need to learn about and develop skills they need to succeed in the 21st century workforce while congratulating TCRA for championing the digital clubs Initiative.