MINISTRY OF FINANCE
INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Kupanga ni Kuchagua
Ms Jane Said Mchakama
Dean of Student
The Student Service Directorate, headed by the Director of Student Service, coordinates and administers welfare services to all students. We liaise with the various directorates and other service departments in the institute to help manage student’s activities within and outside the institute. The Directorate also coordinates all extra-curricular activities for students to successfully nurture physiological, mental and spiritual health to pursue their academic programmes. The following facilities are provided by the Office of the Director of Student Services: student accommodations (Hostels), games and sports, worship, and student counselling in various problem and career guidance. The Director of Students Services also assists the Deputy Rector - Administration in student disciplinary matters.
Sports
Games and sports play a special role in building strong minds, a must-have for studying well. These activities include fun and rule-bound competitions, bringing joy and excitement to the journey of overall well-being.
Active participation in sports and games can have benefits in students’ lives. It gives a student a chance to enhance their physical and social skills. The Institute has the best sporting facilities, including soccer pitches, netball and basketball, and athletics. All these sporting endeavors are tailored specially for students, and they engage in diverse competitions such as competitions organized for higher learning institutions (SHIMIVUTA), which is held yearly, as well as interdepartmental, intercollege games and international competitions. Other social activities include Mr. and Miss Talent and Fresher's part.
Our commitment lies in promoting a culture of well-being within an environment that appreciates, embraces, and enhances individual differences. The multiple benefits of involvement in sports align with the IRDP sports slogan, affirming that “ Michezo ni Afya starehe, na Ajira”. This emphasizes that sports encompass entertainment and contribute to health and employment.
Recreation
Accomodation
We provide both in and off-campus accommodation for students as per individual choice. Accommodation inside the IRDP campus is limited and in high demand at the beginning of an academic session; therefore, accommodation is not guaranteed for every student. Students are strongly encouraged to look for private accommodation outside the campus in case efforts to secure institute allocation fail
All facilities have a favorable environment, including a bed, mattress, study table, chair, security, electricity, and water. Special arrangements for master’s students can be made on request.
Accommodation payment is made through a control number provided at the beginning of the academic year.
No student will be given a room inside the campus until he/she has paid the prescribed rent. Priority for in-campus accommodation will be given to students with disabilities, foreign students, female students, and first-year students currently residing away from Dodoma City.
Health Services
The Institute of Rural Development Planning Dispensary provides health services to staff, students and the community around the institute. The IRDP dispensary operates eight hours a day. Currently, the following are the services offered: outpatient clinic, laboratory services, reproductive and child health services, counselling and testing HIV and providing antiretroviral drugs for pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS.
IRDP dispensary is accredited to serve the National Insurance Fund (NHIF) beneficiaries. All students must join NHIF by paying the NHIF contribution fee (Tshs 50,400) to the NHIF during the registration period. Students who fulfil the NHIF conditions will be provided with a membership number, which will be used to access health services at the IRDP dispensary and other accredited health facilities country-wide.
Counselling
Student experience many challenges in both their academics and personal lives. Many new and important decisions are made these days. Change is constant, and stress often accompanies these new experiences.
The Office of Directors of Students Services provides a place for students to discuss these multifaceted changes in a private and confidential setting. Counselling helps students cope with various challenges and make sound decisions. Students experiencing serious emotional difficulties or requiring specialized or long-term treatment can receive referrals to professional services where an interactive session between students and professional counsellors can be conducted to share their day-to-day challenges.
IRDP periodically organize counselling workshops at campuses where students get a chance to interact and share their journeys to mentor and guide fellow students who may be going through the same
Counselling services are free of charge. Issues addressed in counselling include but are not restricted to:
- Relationships
- Family issues
- Stress management
- Behavior change
- Financial issues
- Grief (death of loved ones)
- Sexuality and family life planning
- Career guidance and counselling
- Life skills
- Managing peer pressure
- Loss of self-esteem
- Conflict management
- Emotional and psychosocial problems
- Study skills and examination-taking techniques
- Drug and substance
The staff follows strict professional codes of confidentiality. Counselling records are not part of the institute's records
Catering
The institute has a commercialized cafeteria where students are mandated to remit meal payments, which are distinctly separate from the overall fees. Since the campus hostel lacks cooking facilities, students are strictly prohibited from preparing meals in their accommodations. The Institute has four exemplary cafeterias; three are within the main campus, while the other is in Mwanza, serving the IRDP branch in that region. The cafeteria offers service with all meals to students at subsidized rates. The meals are paid for at the cafeteria counters.