RC orders tracing of 6,497 missing students

DODOMA: DODOMA Regional Commissioner, Ms Rosemary Senyamule, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Ward Education Officers and Ward Executive Officers (WEOs) to trace 6,497 students who have not reported to schools.

She said out of 45,088 students selected to join Form One in 2026 in Dodoma Region, only 38,591 have reported so far, equivalent to 85.59 per cent, while the rest remain unknown.

“The question we must all ask ourselves is, where are these remaining students?” she questioned.

Ms Senyamule issued the directive during a working session with primary and secondary education officers, human resource officers and WEOs. She said WEOs live among the communities and are well aware of the students in their respective areas.

“You are responsible for ensuring that every school-age child within your area attends school. In collaboration with ward education officers, ensure all children are in schools in line with the Education Policy,” she said.

The Regional Commissioner directed that the students be traced and returned to school within seven days, with daily progress reports submitted on the exercise.

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She also called for followup on children who are supposed to join pre-primary and primary education but have not yet been enrolled. Ms Senyamule said the government has invested heavily in school infrastructure and urged people to ensure children attend and complete their education.

She commended teachers for improved performance in the 2025 examinations, noting an increase in pass rates across key national assessments.

However, she said more efforts are needed to meet targets outlined in the education strategy.

On his part, Assistant Administrative Secretary for Education and Vocational Training, Kiduna Mageni, said school attendance remains unsatisfactory, noting that truancy continues to affect completion rates at both primary and secondary schools.