OVER the past four years, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has led transformative reforms in Tanzania’s education sector, recognising its critical role in shaping the nation’s future.
From curriculum updates to infrastructure expansion, her administration has made considerable progress in improving access, enhancing quality and ensuring that education meets the needs of the labour market.
A major milestone was the introduction of the 2014 Education and Training Policy (2023 Edition), which steers the education system towards competency-based learning.
Furthermore, extensive curriculum reforms have been implemented across pre-primary, primary, secondary and teacher training institutions, with phased implementation beginning in January 2024.
The Ministry of Education has also developed new educational guidelines to support these reforms, including the Home-Schooling Guide, the Home-Visit Guide and various measures to identify, assess and manage education for students with special needs.
These initiatives aim to strengthen inclusive education and ensure equitable learning opportunities for all students.
The government has also taken significant steps to promote gender equality in education, particularly through the National Girls Education Initiative.
One of the most pivotal policy changes occurred in November 2021, when the long-standing ban on teen mothers returning to school was lifted, enabling them to continue their education.
The policy was also extended to students who had dropped out due to truancy or family issues, ensuring that no child was left behind. In an effort to eliminate financial barriers to education, President Samia’s administration introduced feefree education for Form Five and Form Six students in the 2022/23 academic year.
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This policy builds on the existing fee-free initiative for primary and O-Level education, allowing Tanzanian children to access education from primary to advanced secondary levels without incurring fees.
The commitment to gender equality in education has substantially increased enrolment rates, providing more opportunities for both girls and boys to pursue their studies without financial constraints.
Recognising the importance of practical skills for economic development, the government has expanded vocational and technical training programmes.
The number of students enrolled in technical education and training colleges grew from 171,581 in the 2022/23 academic year to 235,804 in 2023/24, with female students representing 114,079 of the total.
This increase is attributed to the expansion of technical education institutions, which grew from 465 in 2022/23 to 474 in 2023/24, including both public and private colleges.
Vocational training has also been integrated into 96 secondary schools, with 28 public and 68 private institutions involved. To further enhance technical education, the government has completed the construction of 29 vocational training centres, 25 at the district level and four at the regional level.
Of these, 25 district-level Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) centres have started offering both longterm and short-term training programmes.
The ongoing construction of 64 new VETA colleges, including the Chamwino VETA, which is 83 per cent complete, marks another significant achievement in this area.
Additionally, a regional VETA college has been constructed in Songwe and each district-level college now consists of 18 buildings, while the regional-level college comprises 25 buildings. Further efforts include the construction of specialised workshops at Kihonda VETA College for training in electrical engineering, plumbing, construction and automotive mechanics, with the project currently 25 per cent complete.
Since taking office in March 2021, President Samia has prioritised substantial investment in educational infrastructure, recognising that well-equipped schools are essential for quality learning.
Over the past four years, the government has constructed a model school in Dodoma with the capacity to accommodate 1,000 students.
Other significant infrastructure projects include the construction of 4,043 classrooms, 109 dormitories, 20,901 pit latrines and 253 teachers’ houses, providing accommodation for 424 educators.
Additionally, 2,254 new secondary schools, 302 new primary schools and 132 new science laboratories have been built.
These projects aim to bridge the gap in access to education between urban and rural areas while enhancing the overall learning environment.
By prioritising school infrastructure, the government has ensured that children across Tanzania, regardless of location, have access to a conducive learning environment.
In higher education, the government has significantly increased student loan allocations through the Higher Education Students’ Loan Board (HESLB). In the 2023/24 academic year, a total of 220,278 students benefitted from HESLB funding, a substantial improvement from previous years.
In 2021/22 and 2022/23, 570bn/-were allocated annually to support students. In 2020/21, the allocation was 464bn/- , meaning that in her first year in office, President Samia increased education funding by 106bn/- . In a historic move, the HESLB, for the first time in 2023/24, extended loans to diploma students admitted to 36 colleges, further expanding opportunities for higher education.
The President also launched the Samia Scholarship, an initiative aimed at supporting students who excel in science subjects in national examinations. The scholarship covers 100 per cent of university tuition fee for students admitted to programmes in Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine.
This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to promoting excellence in STEM fields and equipping young Tanzanians with the skills necessary to drive national development.
President Samia has consistently advocated for modernising Tanzania’s education system to meet the demands of the 21st century. In her inaugural speech to Parliament on April 22, 2021, she underscored the importance of education in shaping the nation’s development.
Her administration has responded to this vision by reviewing the 2014 Education Policy alongside a new curriculum that focuses on competence, innovation and practical skills.
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adolf Mkenda, recently affirmed that the reforms outlined in the 2023 Education Policy and Curriculum are fully integrative and holistic, giving equal emphasis to all subjects, including mathematics and sports. Under the new curriculum, Form One has been divided into two streams: Vocational skills and general education, while further reforms are anticipated in 2027 with the introduction of a compulsory ten-year education system.
These reforms reflect President Samia’s bold and visionary leadership, ensuring that Tanzania’s students are well-equipped for the challenges of the modern world. By prioritising skills development, the government aims to align education with national development goals and economic growth.
President Samia has steadfastly advocated for addressing long-standing challenges in education and ensuring that learning is accessible, inclusive and skills-oriented.
Through ongoing investment in infrastructure, curriculum development, vocational training and higher education support, her administration has laid a strong foundation for future generations
