New dawn for education

• Embrace competence, skills
• Compulsory basic education will be 10 years
• Pre-Primary education enrollment must be 5 years
• English subject to be taught from standard one
• French, Chinese, Arabic from Standard Three
• History of Tanzania and ethics subjects at all levels

MINISTRY of Education, Science and Technology has released the first draft of the proposed new edition of the education and training policy and curricular, whose focus is competence and skills based.

The proposed new draft of the Education and Training policy shows that the formula will be 1+6+4+2/3+3+.The formula stands for one year of pre-primary education, six years of primary education, four -years of ordinary secondary education, two years of advanced secondary or three years of technical education and three years + tertiary or higher learning education

Speaking in Dodoma yesterday, the Minister for Education, Science and Technology Professor Adolf Mkenda has said that the completion of these documents follows the promise of President Samia Suluhu Hassan she made in Parliament in 2021, saying that the government will review the education and training policy of 2014 and all curricula.

Minister Mkenda assured that the new draft matches with economic trends, including the 21^st century technological needs in the world.

The draft which was released yesterday through the ministry’s website, intends to have in place a vibrant, diversity and result-oriented policy and curricular thus increase the number of skills and competent graduates in various fields to meet the national and world market demands.

Moreover, the public will have a wide choice of enrollment to ensure that the education offered provides life skills, innovation, vocational and match with the market demands.

The move according to the document, 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.

According to the draft, the education system will be divided into elementary education, primary education, secondary education and higher learning education.

The proposed new edition of the Education and Training policy will repeal the current education system of 2+7+4+2+3+, where a student graduates from higher learning after almost 25 years for a student who starts primary education with seven years compared to other countries like South Africa, Mauritius, Malaysia and Finland where most graduate within 20 and 22 years.

With the proposed policy, the students will start primary education at six years while the pre-primary education intends to prepare the pupil to a healthy mind, healthy body, psychologically able to live in the community ahead of the primary education.

Moreover, the system provides room for those out of the education system to be enrolled in formal education according to the set criteria, so that they can benefit from the opportunities in the formal sector.

The government will have in place a national equivalent criteria and respective award for all levels of education.

The government states that it will put in place a system which will guarantee that graduates at all levels get the needed skills and competence according to the national standards.

Also, those in the compulsory education will keep on enjoying the free fees education.

Some of the proposed curricular changes are meant to improve competence skills and special competence in every subject, priority being in culture and norms, divinity, arts and culture, communication skills in learning, life skills, health and environment.

For Standard One and Two pupils, the proposal of the curricular is to undertake the key subjects — reading, writing, demonstrate mastery of Basic English language skills, mathematics, traditions upholding, arts and sports, environment and health.

Subjects for Standard Three and Four are Kiswahili, English, French, Chinese, Arabic, mathematics, history of Tanzania and ethical values, divinity, arts and sports, science and geography and environment.

For the ordinary secondary education the subject list in the proposal are history of Tanzania and ethical values, history, geography, English, Literature in English, Kiswahili, Arabic, Chinese, French, sports, physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, agriculture, additional mathematics, computer science and bookkeeping.

Others are Business Studies, Textiles and Garment Construction, Fine Art, music, theatre arts, Home management, Food and Nutrition, Bible Knowledge, Islamic and Kiswahili literature.

Main fields and different occupations for O-level secondary education-vocational include electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, automotive engineering, transport and logistics, clothing and textile, agriculture and food processing.

Others are hospitality and tourism, commercial and business support services, printing, extraction and processing of minerals, cosmetology, creative arts, ICT and electronics and sports.

Minister Mkenda said the draft is available for public to present their final views by May 31^st this year before the final procedure to make the document official.