CAN HE REALLY NOT SEE HEAVEN?

Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA

“It is impossible for a class in our course, which enrolled nearly 300 students, to have more than 100 dropouts. Is this fair? I know the biggest problem is poverty. A student is given a loan of 700,000 shillings, while university tuition fees are 1.5 million shillings. Where is that student supposed to get the remaining 800,000 shillings?”

Honestly, we Tanzanians are full of surprises!

“After those students drop out, nobody follows up to find out what happened, nor does anyone stop to ask why they left. I am asking them to follow up. If the issue is the missing 800,000 shillings for tuition, then since the university is not a government institution, let the student continue with their studies and pay later. If they are unable to pay, then when they eventually come to collect their certificate, they can settle the debt.”

Mwanakwetu was sitting inside a bus, listening to these claims.

He listened very carefully to the arguments being made.

Then he heard:

“You know, most of these professors will never make it to heaven.”

In his mind, Mwanakwetu wondered: Wow! Have we really reached that point? It seems society is now helping God with the work of judging people!

What about distinguished scholars such as Professor Issa Shivji? What about Minister Professor Paramagamba Kabudi? What about the professors who taught me? Will they really miss heaven?

Mwanakwetu's head began to ache badly.

One of the young men continued:

“For example, Professor Mkenda is a minister. He should follow up on this issue. If every university admitted 500 first-year students, he should ask himself: How many dropouts are there? And why, student by student? There should be explanations. I am not even sure whether they actually conduct such investigations.”

Mwanakwetu thought to himself, Good Lord! Does this mean that even Professor Adolf Mkenda will not enter heaven?

Mwanakwetu had no answers. He wanted to ask, but the young men were sitting in front of him and speaking with such intensity that he remained silent.

He said to himself:

“Let me ask myself this question. Will I make it to heaven myself?”

The young men eventually reached a stop and got off the bus. They began arguing with the conductor over the fare. Their final words were:

“We are university students, brother. We don't have money. The little money we receive is hardly enough. We are going for fieldwork, and if you, conductor, continue behaving like this, even you will never see heaven! Give us our change. Do you want us to curse you? I am telling you, conductor, you and your driver will never see heaven. You will only hear about heaven with your ears while you are still here on earth.”

Good heavens! What words!

“You will never see heaven; you will only hear about heaven right here on earth.”

These words greatly amused Mwanakwetu. Laughing to himself, he continued his journey until he reached his destination. He got off and went on his way—his thoughts tumbling over one another.

It was then, upon reaching his destination, that he decided to write this article just as it had unfolded.

WHAT DOES MWANAKWETU HAVE TO SAY TODAY?

Mwanakwetu was once a teacher in primary and secondary schools in Tanzania during the days of MEMKWA and MESS. During that period, teachers made sure that all children of school-going age were identified and taken to school, whether primary or secondary, while school infrastructure was also being improved.

Even groups of girls who had dropped out of school to work as domestic helpers were followed up. Their parents were sought out, and efforts were made to ensure that the girls returned home and subsequently went back to school so they could continue their education.

Today, those children who benefited from the MESS and MEMKWA initiatives are now at universities, while some have already graduated.

MWANAKWETU'S ADVICE

There is an urgent need to investigate the number of university students who have dropped out or failed at every higher-learning institution in Tanzania during the 2025/2026 academic year.

The number should be established and analyzed as quickly as possible, because this situation is a warning bell about the state of our education system.

The case involving these university students needs to be examined carefully. It should also serve as a warning to the advisory bodies within the appointing authorities, the Ministry of Education and the relevant Permanent Secretary, so that there is a strong desire to know the condition of our educational institutions one year after students are admitted.

Such follow-up could increase attention to the welfare and development of our young people, involving universities, parents and guardians, TCU, the Higher Education Students' Loans Board, and the relevant ministry.

Mwanakwetu recommends that a small-scale study be conducted to obtain accurate information about the situation across the country and establish the true magnitude of the problem, if indeed such a problem exists.

And if it is true that some students have left university because of various challenges, I recommend that they be directed to report to the offices of District Commissioners and then be assisted to return to their universities as quickly as possible.

This is a very important group, and their challenges need to be addressed urgently. They could be allowed to return to university through a special arrangement while their fellow students are on vacation.

AS FOR “SEEING HEAVEN”

As for the question of whether any particular person will “see heaven,” Mwanakwetu leaves that matter as it is.

God Himself will decide.

After all, Mwanakwetu is also striving to find his own way to heaven. The issue has been deliberately retained in this article because it gives greater life to the discussion about university education and the future of our young people. As a parent, Mwanakwetu has be