BAGAMOYO, COAST REGION: The Agency for the Development of Educational Management (ADEM) is one of the institutions under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. It provides long-term and short-term training in leadership and education management for education sector leaders and administrators in the country.
ADEM’s goal is to enhance the management and operation of educational institutions and offices to improve the education system and ensure the delivery of quality education.
Before 1978, there was no institution in the country that provided leadership training for education leaders. As a result, education leaders and administrators were sent to Moray House in the United Kingdom for training. The cost of training employees abroad was very high, and only a few employees were fortunate enough to receive such training.
The expansion of the education sector increased the demand for trained administrators with a solid foundation in education management. The government decided to establish leadership and education management training locally to ensure that education leaders and administrators could receive training within the country. This decision led to the establishment of the Management Training of Educational Personnel (MANTEP) in 1978.
However, in 2001, MANTEP was transformed into the Agency for the Development of Educational Management (ADEM), with its headquarters in Bagamoyo, 66 km northwest of Dar es Salaam. To date, ADEM has opened campuses for education management and leadership training in Mwanza (2010) and Mbeya (2015). This expansion has enabled the agency to increase the enrollment of teachers receiving training in leadership, administration, management, and quality assurance in education.
ADEM is the only educational institution in the country that offers specialized leadership and management training for education leaders. Since 1990, ADEM has been offering the Diploma in Education Leadership, Management, and Administration (DELMA).
ADEM’s Achievements during the 6th Phase Government under the leadership of Her Excellency President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan
Under the leadership of Her Excellency President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, ADEM has made significant progress in strengthening the capabilities of education leaders at various levels, from primary schools to the national level. The training provides fundamental knowledge and skills in leadership, management, administration, and quality assurance to ensure the achievement of the education sector’s goals.
Long-Course and Short-Course Training
ADEM has successfully offered both long-term and short-term training, focusing on equipping education leaders with skills to improve school and educational institution management. The long-term training programmes include the Diploma in Education Leadership and Management (DELMA), the Diploma in School Quality Assurance (DSQA), and the Certificate in Education Leadership, Management, and Administration (CELMA).
During the four years of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, a total of 6,750 teachers completed ADEM diploma programmes, qualifying them for leadership and quality assurance positions in the education sector.
These training programmes not only improve education leadership and administration but also enhance the quality of education at different levels. ADEM has also established international and national partnerships with institutions such as the Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre (EASTC) and Zhejiang Normal University in China to strengthen long-term training in education leadership and management.
For short-term training, ADEM has conducted leadership and education management programmes as well as internal school quality assurance training for 68,619 education leaders from Mainland Tanzania and 1,197 education leaders from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.
The beneficiaries of these training programmes offered at ADEM include Regional and District Education Officers, Ward Education Officers, Head Teachers, school committee members, trainers, and quality assurance officers for middle-level colleges, as well as members of Teacher Training College Boards and School Boards. The training aims to improve education management and ensure that all teachers and education leaders can oversee changes and improvements in the 2014 Education and Training Policy (2023 edition) and the revised curriculum.
The BOOST Project for Strengthening Teaching and Learning in Pre-Primary and Primary Schools
This project, introduced under the leadership of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan,
Through the efforts of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, the BOOST project was established to enhance teaching and learning in pre-primary and primary schools across the country. It is implemented with support from the World Bank and focuses on improving the learning and teaching environment.
ADEM is lucky to be among beneficiaries of the BOOST project after receiving TZS 16,163,065,800.00 for implementing BOOST activities. These funds have been used to train head teachers and develop and publish two books titled “School Management Manual” and the “Education Good Governance Manual” for local government authorities (LGAs).
These books provide guidelines on good governance in education, including school development planning, school management, internal audits, construction supervision, community involvement, and grievance handling in education. After preparing these manuals, ADEM conducted school leadership and management training for 17,817 head teachers across all 26 regions of Mainland Tanzania.
As part of BOOST’s objective to enhance governance in the education sector, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology has instructed ADEM to extend the training to managers and head teachers of non-government primary schools. So far, training has been conducted in Dar es Salaam, Coast, Iringa, Kigoma, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro, and Kagera, with plans to extend it to other regions to build the capacity of school managers and head teachers in supervising teaching and learning effectively, improving student performance, and implementing the revised education curriculum.
Research and Professional Consultancy
ADEM has played a crucial role in identifying gaps in education leadership and management by conducting various research studies. The agency has researched challenges in school leadership and management and provided recommendations to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, as well as PO-RALG, to improve the management of primary education.
For example, a study on the impact of school leadership on improving gender-sensitive and inclusive teaching and learning in Lindi Region highlighted the importance of school leadership in improving student outcomes. Research is a vital tool in shaping education policies and systems, and ADEM continues to provide professional consultancy and recommendations to government education agencies.
ADEM Publications: Guiding Education Management in the Country
During President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan’s four-year leadership, ADEM, through the BOOST programme, has prepared books on school leadership and management. These publications are essential resources for education leaders, head teachers, classroom teachers, and other education stakeholders.
Some of the key publications include the “School Management Manual,” the “LGA Education Good Governance Manual,” and a guide for internal school quality assurance. These materials provide a framework for decision-making in all critical areas of education leadership and management.
Collaboration with International Institutions
In the past four years, ADEM has partnered with international organizations such as the World Bank, UK-Aid, UNICEF, GPE-LANES, Zhejiang Normal University, the African Centre for School Leadership, VVOB-Education for Development (Belgium), and the International Rescue Committee (IRC). These partnerships support research and training in education leadership and management.
For instance, through the UK government-funded “Shule Bora” program, ADEM has provided training for Head Teachers and Ward Education Officers in Dodoma, Katavi, Tanga, Kigoma, Rukwa, Coast, Simiyu, Singida, and Mara. The training aims to enhance the quality of primary education in these regions by improving school leadership and teaching methodologies.
Infrastructure Development for Training
ADEM has also invested in improving its infrastructure to provide better services to education stakeholders. The agency has constructed a new training building at the Mbeya Campus and has initiated the construction of an administration block at its headquarters in Bagamoyo, which will include offices, lecture halls, ICT laboratories, and a library. These efforts align with the government’s commitment to improving education infrastructure under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership.
Recognizing the government’s significant investment in education infrastructure, ADEM plans to begin construction of its Mwanza Campus during the 2025/2026 financial year.
The Future of Tanzania’s Education
Under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, ADEM has significantly enhanced education leadership and management. The agency remains optimistic about the future of the education sector, as the government continues to invest in improving education systems and training education leaders.
We highly commend Her Excellency President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for completing four years of leadership. The ADEM community continues to wish her well, praying for good health and success in leading our nation and bringing positive and transparent changes to Tanzania’s education sector.
ADEM remains committed to conducting training in leadership, management, and quality assurance for leaders and administrators, contributing to the development of the education sector.
