Igniting Tanzania potential

DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania has set out ambitious goals in the country’s recent Development Vision 2050: create a $1 trillion economy, rank top 3 across Africa for private sector investment, ensure 90% of the country has stable electricity access – and improve its citizens’ quality of education and life.

Quality of life rests on investment in people. This is where a thoughtful and focused effort regarding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education – mentioned as key in the document – might come into play. Let us look at what is already being done in the area – and where Tanzania has potential to build on.

The State of STEM Education in Tanzania

Thirty-one percent of all students in Tanzania are enrolled in STEM education programmes. The number of female students in engineering fields is even lower and stands at 13%. Meanwhile, just a third of all public secondary schools have science laboratories installed. The relatively low accessibility of exact sciences hampers the country’s economic and technological ambitions.

However, a lot is being done in the area. The country is building new laboratories, updating teaching materials and trying to spark interest in STEM from the school level up. The World Bank has invested nearly $500 million to strengthen the quality of secondary education in Tanzania, with expanding access to technical education for girls and young women identified as one of key focus areas.

Tanzania is also teaming up with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the goal being the same: improve secondary-level education and interest more girls and young women in pursuing careers in technical fields.

“Empowering women and girls in leadership and STEM will not only promote gender equality but also enhance research and innovation to address social and economic challenges,” underlined President’s Office Public Service Management and Good Governance Minister Ridhiwani Kikwete recently.

At the university level, Tanzania has the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project in place, another joint effort with the World Bank. It focuses on strengthening STEM programmes, producing market-ready specialists, and building new science laboratories.

Alongside university-level reform, Tanzania is also strengthening its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, which serves as a bridge between secondary education and industrial employment. Recent reforms focus on producing market-ready specialists and expanding access to technical skills in sectors such as construction, energy, transport, and manufacturing.

Finally, Tanzania also has regulatory and governing bodies in place: the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) and the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC). The former creates a career pathway for engineers – and is also a licensing body – the latter focuses on the nuclear energy sector, student exchange programmes, and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Global Partnerships in Science and Technology

Tanzania is expanding its international partnerships with other countries and international organisations – to create career pathways for future scientists, engineers, and innovators.

The country participates in IAEA’s Technical Cooperation programme, which aims to strengthen nuclear science application in areas such as health, agriculture, and energy. The current cycle focuses on helping Tanzania enhance cancer care, food security, and infrastructure for power generation. Peaceful uses of nuclear energy include advanced radioisotopes for diagnostics and therapy, food irradiation for preservation and creating baseload low-carbon energy generation.

Tanzania is also in contact with partner countries. Just last year the TAEC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the peaceful and safe use of nuclear technology. This will enable Tanzanian youth to access scholarships and receive firsthand experience in the field.

Russian Rosatom is another international partner in the field of nuclear science. Tanzanian students partake in educational programmes, internships at energy infrastructure companies and are also enrolled at Russian universities in technical areas. International competitions such as HackAtom, The Icebreaker of Knowledge and Tech Forums also attract African students.

Building the National STEM Ecosystem

In addition to these international collaborations, Tanzania is laying the foundation for a nationwide approach to STEM and technical education.

Key structural elements are being put into place: there are initiatives which promote STEM education at school level, university programmes for technical specialists, and governing bodies which need specialists to further develop education and infrastructure in the country.

Tanzania is currently building capacity that would be required for any future nuclear programme. The country already has links with overarching international and regional organisations such as the IAEA and African Commission on Nuclear Energy. The recent partnerships with KOICA, UNICEF, and participation in the global Women in Nuclear initiative gives the country a solid foundation.

Peaceful uses of nuclear energy can both help Tanzania develop several key sectors – such as healthcare and agriculture – and create career pathways for STEM specialists. Both ambitions, if realised, will correlate with the country’s Development Vision.