Tanzania’s priorities in education as budget is strengthened

Dar es Salaam. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is expected to spend Sh1.96 trillion in 2024/25, approximately Sh200 billion more than its budget for the current financial year.

Part of this increase is intended to fund the implementation of the new educational curricula, which partially began in January.

The ministry was allocated Sh1.67 trillion for 2023/24, enabling it to take on key responsibilities, including completing the review of the 2014 Education and Training Policy.

Presenting his 2024/25 budget estimates in Parliament in Dodoma on Tuesday, Education, Science and Technology Minister Adolf Mkenda said the ministry plans to focus on five priorities aimed at improving the quality of education.

This, among other objectives, will enable young Tanzanians to acquire knowledge, skills, confidence, self-employment and secure employment around the world.

The ministry will also focus on supporting research, science, technology and innovation in the country’s development agenda.

Priorities also include continuing the implementation of the new education policy and training curricula, reviewing laws and preparing guidelines for the provision of education and training in the country.

“We intend to expand opportunities and improve the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), as well as provide more opportunities and improve the quality of primary, secondary and teacher education,” Professor Mkenda said.

Another objective is to promote research and the use of science, technology and innovation.

“To enable the implementation of the targets set for 2024/25, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is seeking approval for a total of Sh1.965 trillion,” Professor Mkenda told the House.

Parliament’s Education, Culture and Sports committee warned that budget constraints could make it difficult for the ministry to achieve its goals.

The committee identified some gaps, including shortage of teachers, instructors and lecturers, especially in science, mathematics and practical training subjects.

Committee chairperson Husna Sekiboko said in presenting the team’s views that when the committee analyzed the ministry’s development budget, it found that the estimates had increased by 68 percent, indicating that the government prioritized projects implemented by the ministry.

“Despite this increase, the education budget represents only 14 percent of the total government budget, thus falling short of the international goal of 20 percent of the total government budget,” he noted.

Furthermore, the committee was not satisfied with the funds allocated in some areas, including the implementation of the Education and Training Policy 2014 and the Education Curriculum.

“This will result in a lack of learning and teaching infrastructure, a shortage of teachers with qualifications to match the new curricula, and may even impact students’ ability to achieve educational success,” Ms Sekiboko said. .

According to the Committee, the small budget allocated to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools is insufficient to meet their needs and may lead to a lack of equipment and infrastructure and poor teaching and learning.

It was found that the majority of the ministry’s budget is allocated to the Higher Education Student Loan Board, which accounts for 60.33 percent of the development budget.

This situation, he says, hampers the government’s intention to strengthen the country’s infrastructure and procedures to produce educated Tanzanians and those who continue their education, thereby increasing productivity in the country’s development.

A major setback identified was the lack of financial resources and infrastructure, which could affect the purpose of the new curricula and the benefits of education for students.

“The government should increase the budget for the implementation of new curricula, improve teaching and learning infrastructure and ensure that practical training equipment is available.”

The Committee also recommended that the government increase funding for teacher training colleges to provide and prepare teacher training in line with the new curricula.

Although MPs supported the Ministry’s request to approve that amount, they mostly aligned with the Committee’s sentiments in calling for an increase in the budget to meet the important needs of implementing practical education.

Mr Charles Kaijage (Muleba North-CCM) acknowledged the ministry’s achievement in completing the review of the new curricula, which have already begun to be implemented.

However, he expressed concern about the ministry’s ability to achieve this within the planned budget.

“The challenge here is the budget,” he said. “Implementing this practical education requires expert teachers and modern infrastructure. In this situation, I still see challenges that the government needs to address,” Kaijage said.