Key initiatives spur education

• Samia motivates Std seven pupils to excel

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has underlined several key educational initiatives aimed at supporting students who excel in their studies.

She also pledged enhanced education support to 1,230,780 pupils who began their primary school leaving examinations on Wednesday, underscoring the importance of this educational milestone.

Standard Seven pupils nationwide are undertaking the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) over the course of yesterday and today.

The president reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to students’ transition from primary education to subsequent stages of their academic and personal growth.

The government under President Samia introduced several key educational initiatives designed to support and reward student excellence, which include fee-free secondary education.

Under this initiative, students who pass their exams will benefit from fee-free secondary education, easing financial burdens on families and promoting ongoing academic engagement.

The initiative also extended free education to the initial four years of secondary education, whereby students receive an additional two years of free education in Form Five and Six.

The government has also launched an initiative providing free access to technical colleges in every district, offering an alternative educational pathway for those interested in acquiring practical skills and vocational training.

“My pledge to you in your educational journey, which is already being implemented, is to ensure that each student who progresses to Form One in 2025 will benefit from four years of secondary education without fees, followed by two years of Form Five and Six without fees. Additionally, there will be access to technical colleges in each district for those who choose this path,” President Samia announced on her X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Furthermore, scholarships and loans are available for high-achieving students wishing to pursue higher education, ensuring that financial constraints do not impede their academic and professional growth.

President Samia emphasised that these initiatives are part of a broader effort to advance Tanzania’s economic policies and create more opportunities for the youth.

“Our efforts are continuously aligned with the enhancement of our economic policies to generate more opportunities for each of you as you progress and enter the workforce,” she stated.

The President expressed her confidence in the students’ potential and extended her heartfelt prayers for their success.

According to the ruling party CCM 2020-2025 Election Manifesto, the government has been directed to ensure provision of fee free education at the primary and secondary school levels.

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Increased number of students enrolling in universities in the country from 65,064 in 2015 to 87,813 in 2019;

The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) has issued a stern warning against cheating. Of the 1,230,780 candidates, 584,176 are boys (45.84 per cent) and 666,604 are girls (54.16 per cent). The total includes 4,583 candidates with special needs. According to NECTA’s Executive Secretary, Dr Said Ally Mohammed, 1,158,862 candidates (94.16%) are taking the exams in Kiswahili, while 71,918 (5.84%) are taking them in English.

In a briefing for journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, Dr Mohammed stressed that the council would take stringent action against anyone involved in cheating or fraudulent activities. He cautioned candidates, examination committees, invigilators, school owners, principals and the public against engaging in or facilitating exam fraud, warning that severe penalties would be imposed on those found guilty.

Dr Mohammed expressed confidence that teachers had thoroughly prepared students throughout their seven years of primary education and expected adherence to examination rules. He warned that any student caught engaging in fraudulent practices would have their results canceled according to examination regulations. School owners and principals were reminded not to interfere with invigilators’ duties during the exam period and any examination centre compromising the integrity of the national exams would face cancellation.