Secondary education in Tanzania

Primary education covered on the previous page

Secondary education has also been expanded dramatically. Up to the early 1980s, the emphasis had been universal literacy hence the vigorous expansion of primary education which, in Tanzania, lasts seven years. By 1980, only 4% of primary school leavers went on to secondary school which were overwhelmingly state run and free. There were a few private secondary school where parents had to pay. From the early 1980s, secondary education was expanded and the launch of the  Secondary Education Development Plan in 2003 has seen a dramatic increase in enrolment with secondary schools being opened in every part of the country to cater for local primary school leavers. The expansion was long overdue as by 2001, the private sector had already overtaken the state with enrolment of 55% of secondary school pupils. Figures also show that the slice of the government budget spent on education had steadily fallen over the years. By 1994, it was 11% as compared to 17% in 1970. This was largely a result of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank imposed cuts in government spending and conditions such as introduction of school fees in primary and secondary schools. The disastrous policies were dropped by the government in 2001.

The opening of secondary schools in the children’s own localities  especially in rural Tanzania has improved access dramatically. However, the challenge of staffing and equipping these schools remains immense