Teaching contest highlights drive to raise education standards
DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government’s efforts to improve learning outcomes through teacher innovation have gained momentum, with more than 3,000 teachers participating in this year’s National Teaching Skills Competition, a platform designed to identify and promote effective classroom practices across Tanzania.
Speaking in Dodoma ahead of the awards ceremony, Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Wanu Hafidhi Ameir said the competition has become an important part of wider education reforms aimed at strengthening teaching quality and enhancing pupils’ learning experiences.
The 2026 contest attracted 3,153 teachers from across the country. However, only 1,263 participants completed all requirements, including the submission of teaching videos and lesson plans through the electronic National Teaching Skills Competition System (TSCS), qualifying them for assessment.
Education experts increasingly view teacher quality as one of the most significant factors influencing student performance.
As Tanzania pursues ambitious reforms to improve literacy, numerac, and digital skills, authorities are placing greater emphasis on recognising and sharing innovative teaching approaches that can be replicated nationwide.
Wanu said the competition provides teachers with a valuable opportunity to showcase their expertise, exchange experiences and develop creative methods that support effective learning.
“This competition enables teachers to demonstrate their competence, share experiences and generate innovative teaching approaches that can improve education quality and learning outcomes,” she said.
This year’s competition covers seven categories, including Reading for pre-primary education, English Language for Standard One, instructional materials innovation for Standard Two, and Physics, Mathematics, Business Studies and Computer Science for secondary schools.
According to the ministry, the selected subjects reflect national priorities in strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy skills, improving English language proficiency and preparing students with entrepreneurial and digital competencies required in the modern economy.
The initiative also complements the government’s recently launched Strategic Programme for Building Literacy and Numeracy Competencies among children in pre-primary education and pupils in Standards One and Two.
The programme seeks to ensure that every learner acquires essential reading, writing and arithmetic skills at the appropriate stage of schooling.
Wanu called on teachers across the country to follow the competition and learn from the best-performing participants, arguing that peer learning remains one of the most effective ways of improving classroom practice.
The awards ceremony will be held on June 6 at the University of Dar es Salaam, where outstanding teachers will be recognised for their contributions to education excellence.
ALSO READ: PMO-RALG opens 400 teaching posts to boost business education
Winners in each category will receive 2.5 m/-, a laptop computer, and certificates of recognition. Their schools will also benefit from projectors, while they are selected winning pre-primary and primary schools will receive 100 digital learning tablets valued at 5m/- to strengthen technology-supported learning.
The competition is being held under the theme, “Quality Teaching, Strong Nation,” underscoring the growing recognition that improving education outcomes begins with empowering teachers to excel in the classroom.
For Tanzania, where the demand for skilled human capital continues to grow, the contest reflects a broader shift towards rewarding innovation and professional excellence as key ingredients in building a stronger education system.
