Thursday, April 19, 2012

THE QURAN ON SEAS AND RIVERS:

Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity, and density.1 For example, Mediterranean sea water is warm, saline, and less dense, compared to Atlantic ocean water. When Mediterranean sea water enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill, it moves several hundred kilometers into the Atlantic at a depth of about 1000 meters with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics. The Mediterranean water stabilizes at this depth2 (see figure 13). Figure 13:

Figure 13 (Large)


The Mediterranean sea water as it enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics, because of the barrier that distinguishes between them. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius (C°). (Marine Geology, Kuenen, p. 43, with a slight enhancement.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.) Although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier.

The Holy Quran mentioned that there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they do not transgress. God has said:

                         He has set free the two seas meeting together. There is a barrier between them.   
                          They do not transgress. (Quran, 55:19-20)

But when the Quran speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence of “a forbidding partition” with the barrier. God has said in the Quran:

                         He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and
                         the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a
                        forbidding partition. (Quran, 25:53)

One may ask, why did the Quran mention the partition when speaking about the divider between fresh and salt water, but did not mention it when speaking about the divider between the two seas? Modern science has discovered that in estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and salt water meet, the situation is somewhat different from what is found in places where two seas meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a “pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.”3 This partition (zone of separation) has a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water4 (see figure 14). Figure 14:


Figure 14 (Large)

Longitudinal section showing salinity (parts per thousand ‰) in an estuary. We can see here the partition (zone of separation) between the fresh and the salt water. (Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, p. 301, with a slight enhancement.) (Click on the image to enlarge it.) This information has been discovered only recently, using advanced equipment to measure temperature, salinity, density, oxygen dissolubility, etc. The human eye cannot see the difference between the two seas that meets, rather the two seas appear to us as one homogeneous sea. Likewise, the human eye cannot see the division of water in estuaries into the three kinds: fresh water, salt water, and the partition (zone of separation).

REFERENCES:
(1) Principles of Oceanography, Davis, pp. 92-93.
(2) Principles of Oceanography, Davis, p. 93.
(3) Oceanography, Gross, p. 242. Also see Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301.
(4) Oceanography, Gross, p. 244, and Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

RE-APPLICATION PROCEDURE INTO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2012/2013

The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) hereby informs applicants who applied in the academic year 2011/2012 through the Central Admission System (CAS) but did not report to their selected institutions for various reasons and wish to re-apply in this academic year 2012/2013 that they will not be able to re-apply unless one writes to TCU and indicate the following:
1. The name of the institution and the programme you were selected;
2. Reasons for failing to report to the institution you were selected;
3. Index numbers and years of completion of both ‘O’ level and ‘A’ level secondary education.
4. Your preparedness to deal with the challenge(s) which made you fail to report to the institution where you were selected.

NB: Note that only applicants who will submit their letters requesting for re-application will be allowed to re-apply.

All letters should be submitted to TCU before 30th March 2012 and be addressed to:
Executive Secretary
Tanzania Commission for Universities
P. O. Box 6562
DAR ES SALAAM.
For more information contact TCU through:
Tel No.: (255) (22) 2772657
Fax: (255) (22) 2772891
Email: es@tcu.go.tz
Website: www.tcu.go.tz
Issued by
TCU Executive Secretary

TAARIFA KWA UMMA KUHUSU UENDESHWAJI WA UDAHILI - ELIMU YA JUU KWA MWAKA WA MASOMO 2012/2013

UTANGULIZI
Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania (‘Tanzania Commission for Universities’-TCU) ikishirikiana na Baraza laTaifa la Elimu ya Ufundi (‘National Council for Technical Education’ - NACTE) pamoja na Bodi ya Mikopo ya Wanafunzi Elimu ya Juu (Higher Education Students Loans Board) inapenda kuutarifu umma kuhusu utaratibu wa kujiunga na vyuo vya elimu ya juu kwa mwaka wa masomo 2012/2013 kupitia mifumo ya “Pre-entry”, “Mature Age Entry”, “Equivalent Qualifications” na mfumo wa pamoja wa udahili (‘Central Admission System’) na utaratibu wa mikopo kama ifuatavyo:

MFUMO WA UDAHILI KUANZIA MWAKA 2012/13

1.1 Utaratibu wa Kuendesha Program za “Pre-entry” na “Mature Age Entry”
Kuanzia mwaka huu 2012, vyuo vyote vitakavyotaka kuendesha mafunzo ya awali kabla ya mwombaji kustahili kudahiliwa ili kuweza kujiunga na programu za elimu ya juu (pre-entry programmes) pamoja na kuendesha mitihani ya kupitia mfumo wa “Mature Age Entry” vinatakiwa kuwasilisha programu hizo Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu (TCU) au Baraza la Taifa la Elimu ya Ufundi (NACTE) kwa uhakiki na kupata kibali. Programu hizo ni lazima ziendeshwe kwa muda wa mwaka mmoja. Hali kadhalika kwa upande wa mitihani kupitia mfumo wa mature entry, Tume kwa ushirikiano na Baraza, kwa pamoja wataandaa na kuratibu utaratibu wa mitihani katika vituo maalum kikanda ili vyeti vitakavyotolewa viwe na ulinganifu unaostahili na hatimaye kuweza kutumika katika udahili wa sifa linganishi katika vyuo mbalimbali.
Vyuo vinatakiwa kuandaa programu za mifumo ya “Pre-entry” na “Mature Age Entry” na kuziwasilisha Tume na Baraza ili zihakikiwe kwani mwaka wa masomo kwa kusudi hili utaanza mwezi Agosti 2012/2013. Kwa utaratibu huu, watakaofanya mafunzo hayo watatakiwa kufanya mitihani yao na kujiunga na masomo ya elimu ya juu katika mwaka wa masomo 2013/2014.
Kwa taarifa hii, mwaka 2012/13 hakutakuwapo na udahili wa wanafunzi kwa mfumo wa “Pre-Entry” na “Mature Age Entry”.

1.2 Utaratibu wa Udahili Kupitia Mfumo wa Pamoja (Central Admission System)
Waombaji watakaopitia mfumo wa pamoja wa udahili (CAS) wamegawanyika katika makundi manne, ambapo waombaji wa kundi (i), (ii) na (iii) watatambuliwa kama “Direct Applicants” na kundi (iv) watatambuliwa kama “Indirect Applicants”

(i) Waliohitimu elimu ya sekondari kidato cha sita katika kipindi cha miaka miwili iliyopita pamoja na wale watakaohitimu mwaka huu.
(ii) Waliohitimu mafunzo ya diploma ya elimu ya ufundi (NTA level 6) kutoka vyuo vinavyotambulika na NACTE miaka miwili iliyopitapamoja na wale watakaohitimu mwaka huu;
(iii) Waliohitimu mafunzo ya Diploma ya Ualimu (kutoka vyuo vinavyotambulika) katika kipindi cha miaka miwili iliyopita pamoja na wale watakaohitimu mwaka huu.
(iv) Waombaji ambao sio wa moja kwa moja (Indirect Applicants) ni wote waliohitimu kidato cha sita, Diploma ya Elimu ya Ufundi(NTA level 6) na Diploma ya Ualimu katika kipindi cha zaidi ya miaka miwili iliyopita (kuanzia 2009 kurudi nyuma).

1.2 Waombaji Watakaowasilisha Maombi yao Moja kwa Moja Vyuoni
Waombaji watakaowasilisha maombi kupitia vyuo husika ni wenye sifa linganishi (Equivalent Qualifications) yaani wenye vyeti vya Astashahada na Diploma ambazo hazitambuliwi moja kwa moja na NACTE. Ili kukamilisha udahili, wanashauriwa kuwasiliana na NACTE ili vyeti vyao vitambuliwe na kusajiliwa kabla udahili haujaanza.
Vyuo vinavyofundisha programu mbalimbali katika ngazi ya Astashahada na Diploma ambavyo havina usajili wa NACTE/NECTA vinatakiwa kuwasilisha matokeo ya wanafunzi wao NACTE haraka iwezekanavyo ili matokeo hayo yaweze kutumika katika utambuzi wa vyeti vya wanafunzi husika.

2. MUDA WA UDAHILI KWA MAKUNDI MBALIMBALI
Muda wa maombi wa kuwasilisha maombi ya udahili kwenye CAS umegawanyika katika makundi matatu kama ifuatavyo:

(i) Kundi la Kwanza – (1 Aprili mpaka 30 Aprili 2012)
Waombaji wote waliomaliza kidato cha sita, Diploma ya Elimu ya Ufundi (NTA level 6), na Diploma ya Ualimu kuanzia mwaka 2011 kurudi nyuma wataanza kuomba udahili kuanzia Aprili 1, 2012 hadi 30 Aprili 2012.

(ii) Kundi la Pili
Waombaji wote watakaomaliza kidato cha sita, Diploma ya Elimu ya Ufundi na Diploma ya Ualimu mwaka 2012 wataanza kuomba udahili baada ya matokeo yao ya mitihani kutangazwa na vyombo husika. Hakuna mwanafunzi atakayesajiliwa kwa kutumia matokeo ya muda (provisional or expected results).

(iii) Kundi la Tatu
Waombaji wote ambao ni raia wa Tanzania waliosoma nje ya nchi au wenye vyeti ambavyo si vya mfumo wa elimu ya Tanzania (mfano:Cambridge, Bacclaureate, n.k). Waombaji wa kundi hili wanashauriwa kuomba udahili mara matokeo yao yatakapotangazwa na watatakiwa kupeleka vyeti vyao Baraza la Taifa la Mitihani (“National Examinations Council of Tanzania – NECTA”) au Baraza la Taifa la Elimu ya Ufundi (National Council for Technical Education - NACTE) kwa ajili ya kulinganisha alama zao za matokeo au kupata ithibati kabla ya kuanza kuomba udahili. Hakuna wanafunzi watakaodahiliwa kwa matokeo ya muda.

3. UTARATIBU WA MIKOPO
Bodi ya Mikopo ya Wanafunzi wa Elimu ya Juu kwa mamlaka iliyopewa kisheria itatoa mwongozo na utaratibu wa utoaji wa mikopo mwezi Februari 2012. Miongozo hii itachapishwa katika vyombo vya habari na kusambazwa kwenye vyuo vyote vya elimu ya juu nchini na Ofisi za Posta na kwa Wakuu wa Elimu kila wilaya. Maombi ya mikopo kwa mwaka wa masomo 2011/2012 yataanza kupokelewa ifikapo mwezi Machi 2012na mwisho wa kupokea maombi ni tarehe 30 Juni 2012. Utaratibu huu utahusu waombaji wote wapya na wale walioko masomoni katika vyuo vya elimu ya juu.

4. HITIMISHO
Tunapenda kuwajulisha waombaji wote kuzingatia muda wao wa udahili kama ulivyoainishwa katika tangazo hili. Muda ukiisha hawataweza kuomba hadi mwaka wa masomo 2013/2014. Pia waombaji wote wanashauriwa kufuata taratibu za mikopo kam zitakazotolewa na Bodi ya Mikopo ili kuepuka usumbufu unaoweza kujitokeza katika swala hili
Maelezo zaidi na ufafanuzi kuhusu udahili na mikopo wa 2012/13 yanapatikana katika tovuti zifuatazo:

Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu; www.tcu.go.tz
Baraza la taifa la elimu ya ufundi; www.nacte.go.tz
Bodi ya Mikopo ya Elimu ya Elimu ya Juu; www.heslb.go.tz

IMETOLEWA NA OFISI YA: Katibu Mtendaji, Tume ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania, S.L.B 6562, Dar es Salaam. Barua pepe (e-mail)es@tcu.go.tz