Education
Education has played a vital role in Tanzania’s development since independence.
Context
Realizing the right to learn, Tanzania has significantly expanded school enrolment in recent years, especially among girls. However, 3.2 million children aged 7–17 are out of school, of which 1.2 million have never attended. The net secondary enrolment rate is only 27%. Rural and poor girls are the most affected with higher dropout rates from age 12 onwards due to inadequate WASH facilities, menstruation, and child marriage, although a new policy for school re-entry is expected to help. The expansion of primary and secondary enrolment has taken a toll on quality, with higher student to teacher ratios not all children and adolescents who go to school achieve the learning benchmarks expected for their age and grade. Adolescent girls and boys in Tanzania must be prepared for the future of work with many lacking the skills they need for personal empowerment, civic engagement, and productive roles in the economy of the future.
UNICEF in action
UNICEF aims to ensure that all children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable, have access to quality education in safe environments. The focus is on reaching children in and out of school, with particular attention to adolescent girls. UNICEF advocates for increased funding and resources for education and support the use of data for decision-making. UNICEF addresses negative social norms, such as gender inequality and violence, by strengthening connections between education and other sectors. Promoting disaster preparedness, sustainable energy, and climate integration in schools, UNICEF increasingly embraces digital and distance learning methods to ensure continuous and accelerated learning, drawing from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.