Regional authorities ordered to ensure all students attend school on Jan 13

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO–RALG) has called upon Regional Commissioners, District Commissioners, local leaders, and council officials to collaborate with education stakeholders to ensure that all students, including those with special needs, begin classes on 13 January 2026 without any obstacles.

The call was made today, January 9, 2025 in a statement issued by the ministry in Dar es Salaam noting that it has completed all preparations to receive eligible students for pre-primary and standard one education for the year 2026.

The ministry further noted that the preparations include the disbursing of capitation funds, amounting to 14.12bn/- which were released in December 2025 to facilitate teaching and learning.

Additionally, the ministry said that 196.7m/- was allocated in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years to support the construction of 277 new schools, 2,429 primary classrooms, 64 special education classrooms, 930 pre-primary classrooms, and over 9,388 toilet units.

According to the ministry, the classrooms constructed and under construction include the provision of desks and playing equipment for pre-primary children.

Moreover, the ministry stated that regarding standard one students, the 2014 Education and Training Policy (2023 Edition) directs that children aged six (06) years should be enrolled in school and that according to the National Bureau of Statistics in 2026, a total of 1,950,783 children, including 984,502 boys and 966,281 girls, are of age and should join standard one this year.

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About form one students, the ministry said that a total of 937,581 students, including 508,477 girls and 429,104 boys, were selected, including 3,228 students with special needs, of whom 1,544 are girls.

A total of 1,684 boys were assigned to government secondary schools at the ward level and boarding schools to begin Form One studies in 2026.

Moreover, the ministry said that a total of 28.5/- was disbursed by the government in December 2025 for school operational grants and that infrastructure has been improved by constructing 234 ward-level secondary schools, 74 ward-level facilities, and 29 regional-level facilities, as well as 596 classrooms, 3,186 toilet units, and boys’ schools in seven (7) regions.

Completion of 123 laboratory blocks and the procurement of ICT and laboratory equipment have been carried out, with a total expenditure of  283.1/-.

The Prime Minister’s Office reminded all Tanzanians to adhere to the directives issued by the government through Education Circular No. 3 of 2016 regarding the implementation of Free Basic Education.

“This circular clearly outlines the responsibilities of each stakeholder to ensure students receive quality education,” the statement read.

However, the ministry said that the government continues to provide funds for various education services where in the 2025/26 financial year, a total of 510.9bn/- has been allocated, equivalent to TZS 42.5bn/- disbursed to schools each month.