The hidden struggle: How bureaucracy demoralises Tanzania’s academics, fuels brain drain-5

This persistent issue threatens not only the morale of educators but also the very fabric of higher education in the country.

In discussions with lecturers at major public universities, it is clear that bureaucracy is a widespread challenge.

According to an investigation by The Citizen, these administrative hurdles contribute to delays in implementing important academic initiatives.

A senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), who prefers to remain anonymous, describes the bureaucratic maze as "an endless cycle of paperwork and approvals that stifles academic freedom and innovation."

"It's not that we are not allowed, but an issue that needs a quick decision for the benefit of education can sometimes be unnecessarily delayed," he explained in an interview.

Simple tasks such as obtaining research grants, processing promotions, and securing travel permits for academic conferences can be delayed for months, if not years, due to red tape.

"The demoralisation starts when your intellectual and professional growth is hindered by non-academic obstacles," the lecturer adds.

"We spend more time filling forms and waiting for approvals than conducting research or engaging with students."

In recent years, he said, at UDSM, there have been some improvements under the current leadership, with efforts to value the productivity of opportunities that lecturers bring to their universities and students.

However, the consequences of the bureaucratic system are still dire.

Professors and other academics, demoralised and overburdened, struggle to maintain the enthusiasm and dedication needed to inspire their students and conduct research.

The ripple effect is a decline in the quality of education, with students receiving less guidance and fewer opportunities for advanced research and intellectual development.

Educational consultant Dr Asha Rwehabula warned that this situation could lead to a brain drain.

 "Talented professors and other academics have been seeking or lobbying for opportunities abroad where their contributions are valued and facilitated, rather than hindered," she explained.

"This exodus of intellectual capital is already crippling the academic progress of our institutions."

The bureaucratic stranglehold suppresses innovation and research output. With excessive administrative duties, professors have less time and energy to engage in meaningful research.

"That is why our universities have lecturers and professors, but our research output is still low compared to universities in other countries, including neighbouring ones. Publications in reputable journals are very few from Tanzania's academics," Dr Rwehabula noted.

The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania’s premier academic institution, exemplifies this issue. Despite its extensive scholarly output, much of it remains hidden within local journals.

Over eight years, UDSM's scholarly publications totalled 2,976, averaging 372 per year, yet these works are not globally visible.

The lack of research output affects the academic reputation of Tanzanian universities and impedes national development, as universities play a crucial role in generating knowledge and solutions for societal challenges.

A recent report, “Barriers to Research Productivity of Academics in Tanzania Higher Education Institutions: The Need for Policy Interventions,” published on ResearchGate, highlights several institutional factors hindering academic research productivity.

These barriers include inadequate research funding, heavy workloads, weak collaboration, fragmented research policies, a lack of researchers with impeccable credentials, weak databases, weak mentorship, and informal rewards and incentives.

In a country where university dons are already scarce, bureaucratic burdens exacerbate the problem.

According to the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), the student-to-lecturer ratio in public universities is alarmingly high, leading to overcrowded classrooms and overworked faculty.

The additional strain of navigating bureaucratic hurdles worsens the situation, pushing some professors to the brink of resignation.

A veteran academic with over three decades of experience at the University of Dodoma (UDOM) lamented the loss of potential.

"We have been losing brilliant minds because they are tired of fighting systems that should be supporting them," he says. "Our best and brightest are either leaving the country or leaving the profession altogether."

Reversing this trend requires a multifaceted approach. First and foremost, there needs to be a significant reduction in bureaucratic procedures and increased collaboration, according to experts.

Streamlining administrative processes and introducing digital solutions can help expedite approvals and reduce the paperwork burden on professors.

"This would free up valuable time for academic activities and foster a more supportive environment for research and teaching," the veteran academic suggests.

As the senior lecturer at UDSM aptly put it: "We must liberate our intellectuals from the chains of bureaucracy if we are to unlock the full potential of our nation, especially through research."

By addressing the bureaucratic challenges that demoralise academics and fuel brain drain, the nation can reinvigorate its universities, enhance research output, and foster an environment where both students and educators thrive.