Ardhi Institute Tabora (ARITA) has evolved from a single class of on job training to an institution of excellence where the nation depends on its output of competent technicians and assistants. These are in the forefront in rendering services and products in land related matters.

ARITA originated from an in-house training of map draughtsmanship which was conducted by the Ministry of Lands since 1955. From July 1964, the course was formalised and was conducted on six months duration. Lack of sufficient room to conduct the course and the growing need for more technicians in the Lands sector as a result of more land offices being opened at District level compelled the Ministry to expand the training. This resulted in transfer of the training to Tabora in 1979.

The Ministry proposed to conduct this course together with other short courses in the temporary camp site left out by Kenting Surveys from Canada. So from 1979 ARITA was initiated along “Swetu Road” in Tabora Municipality. Nonetheless ARITA secured a new area in Cheyo area within the Tabora Municipality where it is now located. In 1980, this certificate course in draughtsmanship was improved from six months to one year training. In 1983 the same was yet improved to two years training Programme until today

In order to expand services of the Institute for the benefit of the Ministry in particular, and the Nation as a whole, the Institute proposed and initiated a certificate course in Land Management, Valuation and Registration in the academic year 1988/89, with the aim of strengthening technical services in Land administration.

In 1989/90 – ARITA proposed to start an Ordinary Diploma course in Cartography of two years duration. The main objective was to upgrade the training in map making and reproduction of maps in digital environment in the country, since it had been observed that there was a shortfall of appropriate and properly trained staff in the mapping industry. The target groups were those with:

(i) Certificate in cartography

(ii) Certificate in land surveying

(iii) Form Six leavers who are interested to train in this field

In the year 1990/91, ARITA again proposed and started a two years certificate course in Graphic Arts and Printing (GAP). The main intention of initiating such a course was to improve the course of photolithography which was conducted as an in-house training at the Ministry headquarters, so that the trainees could now utilise the printing plants at the Ministry head office to produce various information products other than maps alone: These include books, brochures, calendars, company logos, and factory labels. Moreover these graduates may fully be utilized in other printing industries in the country.

It is quite obvious now that ARITA has made a tremendous progress academically since 1980 up to 1991. This was a progressive stride for the Ministry, since all courses that were conducted as in-house are now conducted as full time courses, with recognised status.

Since 1991 up to now, ARITA had been striving to improve training and training environment at the Institute, so that the training environment is conducive academically. ARITA is registered with NACTE with a registration number REG/EOS 010 of 14th March 2003. The Institute is also fully accredited by NACTE since 26th May 2015.

To train and impart knowledge and enhance skills in identifying user needs so as to develop appropiate capacity and strategies addressing them.

To develop into a centre of academic and professional Excellence in Applied Sciences and Technologies for effective and efficient communication and delivery of geospatial information for decision making.