1.97TRI/- EDUCATION BUDGET: State sets out big reforms
- Budget soars by almost 300bn/-
- National Education Act set for review
- National Technology Vision in pipeline
DODOMA: THE Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has revealed its 1.97tri/- budget for the financial year 2024/2025, outlining five key priority areas aimed at improving the quality of education for Tanzanian youth.
Also, the government will focus on enhancing opportunities and improving the quality of vocational education training, enhancing opportunities and quality in primary, secondary, and teachers’ college education, expanding opportunities and quality in higher learning institutions, and intensifying research, science, technology, and innovation initiatives.
Prof Mkenda requested parliamentarians to endorse 1.97tri/- for the ministry’s recurrent and development expenditures.
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Each financial year, the budget for the ministry has continued to increase, thanks to the sixth phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has repeatedly emphasised the need to improve the education sector.
This year’s budget has been increased by almost 300bn.
In 2023/24, the House approved 1.7tri/- for the ministry, while in 2022/23 parliament endorsed a 1.5tri/- budget.
According to the minister, in catalysing the industrial economy in the country, the government will draft the National Technology Vision in the next fiscal year.
This vision will involve 12 key areas: education, language, communications, natural resources, trade, health, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, human rights, people’s development, enhance Peer Scientific Journals.
In terms of strengthening services for student loans in higher learning institutions, Prof. Mkenda mentioned that the government plans to increase loan opportunities from 223,201 to about 252,245.
“The government aims to provide loans to 84,500 first-year students, including 80,000 for undergraduate programs, 2,000 for postgraduate programs, 500 for foreign students, and 2,000 for Samia Scholarships.”
