According to the Principal of Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Training Institute S.S.F Commandant Omar Haji Khamis said. There is so much more to being a Professional than simply acquiring the best training and skills. Becoming an expert in your field is only one part of earning the respect of clients and colleagues. There are five important elements to being a true professional which include character, attitude, excellence, competency, and conduct.
Professionalism – Advanced training means having highly competent people who can be deployed on the ground to influence communities in the practices of how to avoid Fire disasters. These five keys cover many important concepts, such as being responsible and accountable, developing respect, doing what is right, and learning How to project a Professionalism image?
According to the CCM election Manifesto 2020 – 2025, clause number 204 (f) states the:
“The Special Department of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar is the important body in the implementation concept of nationalism in action, to maintain and to deliver quality services of the rescue, and security in the community. In the next period of five years, CCM will direct the revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to continue and to maintain the Special department of Zanzibar for implementations of the following: -”
(f) To start the new construction of the Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Training Institute – Kitogani – South regional Unguja.
Also, Zanzibar Development Plan (ZADEP), 2021-2026, is a successor strategy for the Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (ZSGRP/MKUZA III, 2016-2020) developed following the inauguration of the Zanzibar Development Vision 2050. Intervention area No: 05 – “Governance and Resilience” and Priority area. No: 03 – “Safety, Security and Disaster Management”.
Since Professionalism is the primary requirement in any institution that strives to achieve excellence and a bright future for its services is concentrating on producing, developing, and exploiting the potential of its staff.
In order to achieve this goal, the Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Force planned to expand its training academy to become a modern one by constructing and rehabilitating a new and old building that involves classes, offices, exhibitions, and dining hall, a hostel for accommodating students, libraries, stores, and museum centers.
Since the Academy will start an advanced training known as National Technical Award Level which is meant to train and register the Fire Protection Managers it needs in hotels and industries in the private sector. Level four of some courses will also be offered.
These training facilities include fire tenders, ambulance vehicles, firefighting equipment, and special vehicles. It also strives to make rehabilitation of the present Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Training Institute and modernize it to become the campus.
Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Training Institute was established 06 January 2003. Currently, the Institute offers the level of certificate only to its firemanship personnel but the aim is to make sure that Academy offers up to diploma level by 2030 to its member and members from outside the Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Force.
Meanwhile, the Head of training, S.F Commander Ibrahim Hassan Ali said to emphasizes the importance of knowledge as a tool for being aware of one’s job, task one is required to carry. It is not possible to comprehend that anyone can do his job without knowing what it is and how it is done. It is most universally that knowledge is necessary for successful Firemanship. Knowledge can be divided into two kinds, theoretical and practical. For Firemanship, practical knowledge is required much more than theoretical knowledge to achieve the goals set. Also show importance of establishing training to the Fire Protection Managers in Hotels and Factories as fire preparedness.
The following are some of the courses that the Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Training Institute is aiming to offer for levels of a basic certificate to a diploma.
- Urban search and rescue courses
- Fire Safety Management Courses
- Aircraft firefighting course
- Marine firefighting course
- Municipal Firefighting courses
- Fire science courses
- Fire Protection and investigation courses
- Paramedic courses
- Emergency and disaster management courses
- Hazardous material courses
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT Courses)
- Architectural courses.
