Tanzania: Medium-Term Strategy 2012 - 2016, issued in 2012

The main reasons for developing the Medium-Term Strategic Plan are to provide the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training with a framework for programme planning, implementation and performance review. The strategy serves as a basic tool for engaging and negotiating financing of education and training with key stakeholders. It presents the government with an instrument for continuous critical evaluation of sectorial activities and priorities, strategic interventions and programme implementation, and sets a basis for resource allocation and targeting. The strategy seeks to improve the quality of education and training by expanding institutional frameworks and structures as well as expanding access to education and training at all levels. The overall mission is to provide all Tanzanians with equal opportunities for quality education and to ensure the development of a quality human resource base through education and training.

The term ‘lifelong learning’ is not explicitly mentioned in the strategy. Instead, the strategy employs the concept of ‘education for self-reliance’. In this regard, it is based on a philosophy that values education and training as key contributing factors to sound economic growth and social, political and cultural advancement.

• Spread of new HIV infections and AIDS in Tanzania
• Corruption
• Demand for skilled human resources for management of the economy and delivery of education services
• Demand for traditional/conventional and non-conventional/innovative approaches in financing education

The strategic plan includes all sectors of the education system, from early childhood to higher education, technical and vocational education, and training and adult education.

The strategy aims at:

• Reducing HIV and AIDS infections and improving care and supportive services
• Enhancing, sustaining and implementing a national anti-corruption strategy
• Improving access, equity and quality in education and training
• Improving management and administration in education and training
• Strengthening information, research and development
• Improving the working environment for the delivery of education and training supportive services
• Improving education on crosscutting issues
• Strengthening sustainable cooperation in education with regional and international organizations
• Enhancing and sustaining alternative sources of funding for the education sector

Planned policy initiatives for improving performance:

• Education Sector Development Programme
• Public Service Reform Programme
• National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty

The strategy puts an emphasis on the roles and functions of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training as a key stakeholder and evaluates the environment in which it operates. The strategy includes a situational analysis of the education and training sector by providing extensive performance reviews of Ministry Departments. The following sub-sectors of the education system are reviewed with regard to a) access, b) equity and c) quality improvement: special needs education, preschool education, primary education, adult and non-formal education, secondary education, teacher education, school inspection, technical and vocational education and higher education. The strategy also provides an analysis of relevant stakeholders, including pupils and students, lecturers and instructors, teachers and tutors, development partners and non-state actors, parents, the general public, the mass media, other ministry departments and agencies providing education.

• Tanzania. Ministry of Education and Culture. 1995. Education and Training Policy
• Tanzania. Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education. 1999. National Higher Education Policy
• Government of Tanzania. 2002. Performance Assessment Framework
• Tanzania. 2008. Education Sector Development Programme 2008-2017

• Ministry of Education and Vocational Training

• Ministry of Education and Vocational Training
• National Council for Technical Education
• National Examinations Council of Tanzania
• Tanzania Commission for Universities
• Tanzania Education Authority

• National Council for Technical Education

Ministry of Education and Vocational Training