Form V intake surges

DODOMA: A TOTAL of 214,141 students have been selected to join Form Five studies in government secondary schools, technical and teacher training colleges.

This year’s selection is an increase of 25,354 students, equivalent to a 13.43 per cent rise compared to the 188,787 selected in 2024. Speaking to reporters yesterday in Dodoma, Minister of State in the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa said a total of 149,818 students have been selected to join Form Five and 64,323 will join various Technical and Teacher Training Colleges (TTC).

Those who been selected include 97,517 girls and 116,624 boys. The number also comprises 1,028 students with special needs.

The number of students selected to join Form Five is equivalent to 69.96 percent of those who passed the Form Four examination.

The minister said a total of 1,728 students, including 801 girls and 927 boys with top academic performance have been selected to join eight special government secondary schools that admit high-performing students.

The minister elaborated that 141,146 students, including 72,337 girls and 68,809 boys have been allocated to boarding schools, while 6,944 students (3,353 girls and 3,591 boys) have been selected to join day schools.

Moreover, the minister explained that 2,875 students including 1,057 girls and 1,818 boys have been selected to pursue various technical programmes in four Government Technical Education Colleges, including Arusha Technical College (ATC),

He said that in recurrent, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), and the Water Development and Management Institute (WMDI).

A total of 2,214 students including 1,099 girls and 1,115 boys have been selected to join Health Training Institutions at diploma level, while 1,609 students (443 girls and 1,166 boys) will pursue diploma programmes in teaching.

Moreover, 57,625 students including 18,427 girls and 39,198 boys will join various vocational and professional colleges across the country.

Mr Mchengerwa said that the first term for Form Five students will begin on July 8, 2025, and the last reporting date is July 21, 2025.

However, students are expected to begin reporting as early as July 6, 2025. “For students selected to join Technical Education Colleges, further joining instructions will be provided by the respective institutions,” he said.

He emphasized that the selection process was based on academic merit and available opportunities and thus, no changes of schools will be allowed due to limited slots.

“I take this opportunity to urge Regional and District Commissioners, as well as Directors of Local Government Authorities, to ensure the government’s goal of having Form Five schools in every division is achieved,” he stressed.

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Furthermore, Mr Mchengerwa has urged students, parents and guardians who need clarification on various matters to contact Regional or Council Education Offices or reach out the ministry for further clarifications.

He commended teachers, parents and guardians for their collective efforts in contributing to the students’ good academic performance and urged them to maintain the same level of commitment in supporting and monitoring their children continued educational progress.