ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a historical overview of social work education in the East Africa region while giving special attention to Tanzania before and after the period of the 1960s. The origin of social work education can be traced from various sources, where it is largely agreed to have been brought by colonialists as one of the means to extend their superiority over African notions of wisdom and knowledge of humanness. As a result, social work education and training replaced African models of living and helping each other. Further, the chapter recognises that social work education is relatively new and still invisible in most of East Africa and, ultimately, in Tanzania. Consequently, the chapter employs narrative methods to inform the findings and discuss the history of social work education and training in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania. Additionally, drawing on various literary sources in the region and Africa, the chapter further identifies numerous opportunities offered by social work education and training. Besides this, the chapter recognises social work education and training challenges. With these in mind, the chapter proposes recommendations to guide transformation and move forward with social work education and training relevant to East Africa, particularly Tanzania.
Sura hii ya elimu ya kazi za kijamii, fursa, na changamoto inawasilisha muhtasari wa kihistoria wa elimu ya kazi za kijamii na mafunzo katika ukanda wa Afrika Mashariki huku ikitoa kipaumbele maalum kwa Tanzania kabla na baada ya kipindi cha miaka ya 1960. Asili ya elimu ya kazi za kijamii inaweza kufuatiliwa kutoka vyanzo mbalimbali, ambapo kwa kiasi kikubwa inakubalika kuwa imeletwa na wakoloni kama ilivyo kwa nchi nyingine, huku wakiamini kuwa elimu na mafunzo yao yalikuwa bora kuliko ya Mwafirka. Matokeo yake, elimu na mafunzo ya kazi za ustawi wa jamii yaliyoletwa na wakoloni, yalichukua nafasi ya mifano ya Kiafrika ya kuishi na kusaidiana. Zaidi ya hayo, sura inatambua kuwa elimu ya kazi za kijamii bado ni mpya na haionekani katika sehemu kubwa ya Afrika Mashariki na hata nchini Tanzania. Kwa hiyo, sura imetumia mbinu za simulizi kupata taarifa na kujadili historia ya elimu na mafunzo ya kazi za kijamii katika Afrika Mashariki, hasa nchini Tanzania. Aidha, kwa kutumia fasihi mbalimbali katika kanda na Afrika, sura hii imebainisha zaidi fursa mbalimbali zinazotolewa na elimu na mafunzo ya kazi za kijamii. Mbali na hayo, sura hii imetambua elimu ya kazi za kijamii na changamoto za mafunzo. Kwa kuzingatia hayo, sura inapendekeza kusonga mbele na elimu ya kazi za kijamii na mafunzo yanayotokana na maarifa na ya Afrika Mashariki, hasa Tanzania.
