Ministry: Education curriculum, policy ready

THE proposed draft of a new education curriculum and policy are ready and already submitted to the authority for approval before being effected, Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology Mr Omari Kipanga told the National Assembly.

“We have completed working on the country’s new education curriculum and policy. Once approved by top authority, it will be effected immediately,” said Mr Kipanga.

He made the announcement in the National Assembly in Dodoma on Tuesday, when responding to the main question by Ms Sylvia Sigula (Special Seats-CCM), on what plan the government has to ensure that the education offered provide life skills and match with the market demand.

Responding further, the deputy minister said that the government decided to review the 2014 Education Policy concurrently with the new curriculum at all levels, which among others look at skills and innovation.

“The policy review and education curriculum aimed at improving the learning and teaching methodologies of vocational skills, life skills to cater for the 21-st century” he said.

The move will give graduates a power of critical thinking, innovation, leadership and communication and information technology know-how so that they can cope with challenges in the community and forge ahead.

Moreover, he said, The National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET) is working on the occupational and professional standards which will be the guidelines for curriculum that meets the current and future market demands.

As for the higher education learning institute, the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) is collecting stakeholders’ views on the quality and standards of the education offered as well as imparting the lecturers with skills to prepare curriculum that will address the employment gaps in the country.

There have been concerns that local graduates lack necessary skills for creating their own jobs through entrepreneurship, while the private sector complains of mismatch between the schools’ knowledge and job market demands.

Mid last year, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Prof Adolf Mkenda announced that government was collecting views from different stakeholders as it seeks to overhaul the education sector to produce competent graduates.

Stakeholders aired their views around policy review, legal framework, change in the curricula, demand and quality of teachers, trainers and lecturers, demand of infrastructure as well as that of working tools.

“These areas need to be considered to ensure that we meet our demand, the planned reforms are the biggest ever,” he added when presenting his ministry’s 2022/23 financial year budget.

In the policy review, Prof Mkenda cited an example of the policy demand of ten years of compulsory education while Tanzania provides it for only seven years.