Tanzania Education Overview

Overview of Education System

• Governed by Tanzania's Ministry of Education
  • Supported by Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government
  • Supported by Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender and Children
• Educational Structure:
  • 2 years of preprimary
  • 7 years of primary
  • 4 years of secondary
  • 2 years of advanced secondary
  • 3+ years of tertiary education
• 44 higher education institutions
  • 12 public universities
  • 21 private universities
  • 11 non-university institutions

Language of Instruction

• Bilingual teaching (English and Kiswahili)
• Private schools: English from primary onward
• Public schools: Kiswahili in primary, English from secondary onward

Government Initiatives

• Tanzanian Development Vision 2025
• National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP)
• Free education in public primary and secondary schools

Challenges in Education Sector

• Lack of competent teachers
• Shortage of learning materials
• Inadequate class infrastructure

Opportunities for U.S. Investment

• ICT infrastructure
• New courses (e.g., computer coding, fashion, animation, music, sports management)
• Education agents promoting U.S. universities
• Partnerships with local institutions

Student Exchange and Study Trends

• Third in East Africa for students studying in the U.S. (after Kenya and Rwanda)
• Approximately 800 Tanzanian students in the U.S. (2019/20)
• Popular fields: IT, finance, business, engineering, medicine
• Reliance on scholarships and financial aid

Future Directions

• Emphasis on science and technology in schools
• Development of oil and gas sector
• Growth of IT sector under President Hassan's administration

Strategies for U.S. Universities

• Collaborate with local education agents
• Partner with Tanzanian universities for online and distance learning
• Attend and participate in education fairs and conferences

Conclusion

• Significant opportunities exist for U.S. companies in the educational sector in Tanzania, especially in terms of infrastructure and new courses.

For further engagement or to introduce educational products to Tanzanian partners, contact Athanasius Lupatu at the U.S. Commercial Service, Dar es Salaam.