Education in Tanznia

The United Republic of Tanzania realizes that quality education is the pillar of national development, for it is through education that the nation obtains skilled manpower to serve in various sector in the nation’s economy. It is through quality education Tanzania will be able to create a strong and competitive economy which can effectively cope with the challenges of development and which can also easily and confidently adapt to the changing market and technological conditions in the region and global economy.

The structure of the Formal Education and Training System in Tanzania constitutes 2 years of pre-primary education, 7 years of primary education, 4 years of Junior Secondary (ordinary Level), 2 years of Senior Secondary (Advanced Level) and up to 3 or more years of Tertiary Education. Specifically, the education system has three levels, namely: Basic, Secondary and Tertiary Levels.

Basic or first level education includes pre-primary, primary and non-formal adult education. Secondary or second level education has Ordinary and Advanced level of secondary schooling while Tertiary or third level includes programmes and courses offered by non-higher and higher education institutions (details: heac@intafrica.com)

Two ministries manage and co-ordinate the Education Sector, namely Ministry of Education and Culture and Higher Education. However, the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government also manages Basic Education. At Tertiary level, planning and service delivery are vested with the institutions themselves through their Governing Councils. Nevertheless, co-ordination and quality control is the responsibility of the Higher Education Accreditation Council (HEAC). At primary and secondary levels quality assurance remains to be the responsibility of School heads, Ward Education Office and School Inspector.

The number of institution at Tertiary level in the country stand at 28 by the end of year 2000. Out of this number, nine institutions are recognised as public and private universities, seven university colleges and twelve non-university tertiary level institutions. Number of both public and private facilities at Primary and Secondary levels is as summarised below

Number of facilities at Basic and Secondary levels of education, details: www.tzonline.org

Medium of Instruction

The main feature of Tanzania’s education system is the bilingual policy, which requires children to learn both Kiswahili and English. English is essential, as it is the language which links Tanzania and the rest of the world through technology, commerce and also administration. The learning of the Kiswahili enables Tanzania’s students to keep in touch with their cultural values and heritage. English is taught as compulsory subject in the primary education whereas at post primary education is the medium of instruction. With regard the Kiswahili, it is the medium of instruction at primary education