TIE, Jenga Hub launch Kalimani App to boost numeracy learning in schools

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE), in collaboration with Miss Tanzania 2006 Nancy Sumari’s  Jenga Hub, has started improving numeracy learning content for lower primary school pupils to ensure children with special needs, particularly the deaf, have equal access to education through inclusive methods and digital technology.

The initiative is aimed at helping pupils in Standard One to Standard Three acquire foundational numeracy skills at an early stage, in line with the implementation of the inclusive education policy and the science and technology strategy championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, which seeks to ensure that no child is left behind in education.

Speaking today, March 17, 2026, during the working session, TIE Director General Aneth Komba said the institution brought together stakeholders to review and update numeracy curriculum content for lower primary classes so that it can effectively reach children with hearing impairments.

She said the main objective is to develop learning content that responds to the educational needs of deaf learners and supports them in understanding mathematics in a more accessible way.

“We have convened this working session to review numeracy curriculum content for Standards One, Two and Three and assess how it can better serve children with special needs, especially deaf learners,” said Komba.

According to her, the use of the Kalimani App will help such learners acquire counting and numeracy skills in a simple and learner-friendly way that matches their learning environment.

She also urged parents of children with special needs to enrol them in school so they can benefit from the improved learning environment being strengthened by the government in collaboration with education stakeholders.

For her part, Jenga Hub Chief Executive Officer Nancy Sumari said the week-long working session focused on developing content that will support deaf learners in Standard One and Standard Two to master numeracy and achieve the broader goals of Tanzania’s education policy.

She said the content development is being carried out under the Inclusive Numeracy Project, which places emphasis on the use of digital technology through the Kalimani App as a tool to support numeracy learning for children with special educational needs.

“This week, we have been developing content in collaboration with the Tanzania Institute of Education to explore how we can support deaf learners in mastering numeracy and reaching the intended learning outcomes,” said Ms Sumari.

She explained that the content is being designed in a child-friendly format and is expected to be delivered through images, audio, videos and visual illustrations to make learning easier and more engaging for learners.

According to Nancy, the use of technology in education can serve as an important bridge in helping children with special needs learn more effectively both in school and at home.

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“We want to use digital technology in a way that allows a child to learn more easily through seeing, listening and following illustrations that support understanding of numeracy,” she said.

Adding, she said Jenga Hub was encouraged by the strong collaboration with TIE, noting that the institution is the main curriculum custodian and a key partner in advancing inclusive education through innovation and technology.

Nancy said their ambition is to ensure that no learner is left behind, adding that while the journey has started with deaf children, the long-term goal is to reach more children across the country.

She further noted that the technology can be a useful tool for both teachers and parents in strengthening children’s understanding, participation and confidence in learning.

“A teacher handling deaf learners can use our free platform to improve lesson comprehension, understanding and learner participation,” she said.

She called on parents and teachers to embrace the opportunity presented by technology for the benefit of children, while stressing that Jenga Hub is ready to provide training on how to effectively use the platform.