Over the years, the Tanzanian education sector has remained a cause for alarm due to the government’s ignorance of the academic needs of the masses. Majorly, no section of the Tanzanian constitution implies that the government is responsible for providing people with education. And as part of the drawbacks of contemporary Tanzanian society, this means the masses have to exert themselves and work towards giving themselves formal education. 

MAJOR PROBLEMS FACING EDUCATION IN TANZANIA

Since the provision of compulsory education is not included in the government’s agenda, it will be very difficult to argue that education is one of the privileges every Tanzanian child must receive from the government. In light of this, the Tanzanian education sector is yet to reach any peak of improvements and currently, it persistently struggles amid challenges.

Sadly, the government’s failure to charge itself with the development of the education sector has resulted in woeful performances which are recorded year after year. In some past years, records culled from the performances of many form-four students revealed that a sad total of 60% obtained division 0, about 34% obtained division 4 while just 6% of the students succeeded in the examinations.

In point of fact, the failure of students to emerge with brilliant performances apparently results from the marginalization many Tanzanian communities suffer in the hands of the government. Lots of parents do not find it affordable to enroll their children in private schools. This forces them to restrict their children to public schools where no attention is paid to the welfare of students.

Many students in public schools are faced with a lot of academic drawbacks among which are little or no financial support from parents, absence of competent academic personnel, high incidence of expulsion and lack of infrastructural facilities.

On several occasions, some educators have entreated the Tanzanian government to see to the academic needs of the masses by making sufficient books available to students and educating academic personnel –such as teachers –in accordance with relevant curricula. At the same time, it is believed that teachers’ knowledge of curricula –which pertain to the current methods of conducting examinations –will foster the betterment of education in the country.

Viewing the issue of students’ poor performances from another angle, it has been argued that students themselves choose not to focus on reading their books. Rather than reading, many students have reportedly indulged themselves in social media platforms such as Facebook.  While browsing the internet, these students fail to conduct researches that can facilitate their studies. In that case, they favour chatting with friends online at the expense of academic engagements.

Here, we’re committed to highlighting some of the critical problems facing education in Tanzania, those that the Tanzanian education sector is yet to overcome. As earlier implied, most of these problems are attributed to the government’s failure to provide the means for quality education.

PROBLEMS FACING EDUCATION IN TANZANIA

• Lack of Sufficient Facilities for Sports Activities

Many Tanzanian schools –especially public schools –are short of adequate funds needed for the purchase of sports facilities. Barely can these schools afford the maintenance of playing grounds and this is due to the inadequate resources available to them?

However, the introduction of the (UEP) Universal Education Programmes –alongside the freedom for the private establishment of schools –has contributed immensely to some part of Tanzania’s education sector. Significantly, there has been a favourable increase in the number of private schools, universities, and colleges. As a greater step ahead of this, cases of admission into these institutions are on the increase. Meanwhile, the woeful outcome of Tanzanian education –largely resulting from over-dependence on the public sector –is being phased out by the continual emergence of private institutions into the education sector.

Significantly, the private sector is striving hard to equip its schools with adequate sports facilities which can improve students’ understanding and appreciation of physical education.

• Cultural and Social Norms in Tanzania

One of the drawbacks afflicting the Tanzanian education sector is the people’s view of education. This view makes them pay little or no attention to the unethical practices and attitudes peculiar to boys and girls.

In many cases, some female children encounter severe academic plights resulting from sexual harassment and unwanted pregnancies. Consequently, some of these girls become subject to early marriages and eventually lose the opportunity to proceed with their education.

Also, some cultural practices –particularly peculiar to the less-privileged areas –subject many female children to undertaking house chores. In this regard, they are deprived of formal education beginning from very early ages. Another critical aspect of this is that most of the children living under disabilities –such as the physically challenged –are largely ignored and barely do they have access to education.

As regards the presence of male children in schools, the best part of boys pay little or no attention to education. In view of this, some of them choose to diverge from their academic courses during their teens.

• Old-fashioned System of Teaching

Many schools adopt some old teaching methods which do not tally with the contemporary needs of students. The curricula of several schools have failed to experience any improvements. Unfortunately, these schools adopt the same curricula year after year.  Meanwhile, this results in the failure to focus on the present-day challenges afflicting Tanzania’s education sector.

• Inadequacy of Academic Materials

Schools –especially in the public sector –are short of the academic materials required to impart adequate literacy to children at the primary and secondary levels. In many cases, children –in primary schools –are provided with very few books that do not meet their academic necessities. As a result of this, many of them fail to acquire the standard literacy they need before plunging into secondary education.

Cases of Overcrowded Classrooms

Lots of Tanzanian schools –especially at the primary level –are crowded with children. This disproportionate number of children affects teachers as a single teacher may find it difficult to cope with a classroom of almost 200 pupils. In view of this, many teachers fail to impart adequate knowledge to pupils.

• Poor Infrastructural Facilities

Some schools are not equipped with the basic amenities needed to enhance children’s desire to learn. Factors such as dilapidated classrooms, poor supply of electricity, inadequate water supply and lack of sanitary measures hinder many children’s access to quality education.

Meanwhile, these demerits are largely associated with many public schools because the government hardly funds them with the infrastructural equipment which can pave the way for sound education.

That’s all on Major problems facing education in Tanzania 2018.

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Tags: Problems Facing Education In Tanzania, problems of education in Tanzania, history, and development of education in Tanzania

DISCUSS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA

The last time we took out time to discuss what special education is and the challenges it comes within Zambia which is really a sad one. so today we are going to discuss the development of special education in Zambia as we believe every challenge has a solution if only we are willing to make that change a reality and not just wishing.so here are a few tips of how this special education in Zambia can be developed.

DISCUSS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA

• FINANCE

One of the major factors facing this special education is finance so I presume the ministry of finance has a lot of work to do. I presume a lot of creativity needs to be brought in like luring private investors and other well-meaning Zambians to coming together to make these children with special disabilities dream come through. Its up to the ministry to device means to raise and rally finance to get these institutions running like they should

• BUILDING MORE CLASSROOMS

One major problem these special schools face is the fact that the number of children with disabilities wanting to embrace education is growing but not these schools as they remain the same in terms of infrastructure and number of centers, so it high time the government wakes up to it responsibilities and erect more classrooms to meet the growing demands of these special children and effect a budget for this to the ministry of education to put these schools and children into consideration because they are also special like every other kid and can be greater in life too

• HAVING MORE SKILLED TEACHERS

Many teachers are not trained to handle these pupils as many teachers prefer getting trained only to teach the regular kids so an awareness should be made and ways should be enacted to encourage more people to go into training to enable them to meet the demands of this pupils

• GETTING UP TO DATE INFRASTRUCTURES TO WORK WITH

This is also a call to the Zambian government to take these schools seriously and try to provide the necessary infrastructures and amenities needed in these special schools to enable these pupils get the proper development they need to be better in life

Furthermore on the topic – ” Discuss The Development Of Special Education In Zambia “…

• SCHOLARSHIPS

We are aware that many pupils are from poor homes who can barely feed and thy need this education too. So the government needs to look into this and encourage scholarships for the best brains so that the best of Zambian pupils with disabilities won’t go in vain. These pupils also have a right too and that right is education

• GETTING TEACHERS AND AUTHORITIES TO BE CONCERNED AND COMMITTED

Here the government needs to look into many of these school management who don’t show commitment to the well being of these kids and see to it that anyone who goes contrarily to the law is punished to serve to serve as a deterrent to others.
In conclusion, we have been able to highlight some major factors that will help during the development of special education in Zambia, not only Zambia alone but we as Africans should know that we are all suffering from this.

That’s all on the topic – ” Discuss The Development of Special Education In Zambia “.

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Tags: Discuss The Development of Special Education In Zambia

CHALLENGES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA

Africa is not just a great nation, but also one of the largest and fastest growing developing continent. But that’s not to say that we are a perfect continent without challenges and setbacks as we are going to be looking at some of the major challenges facing the educational sector in a place called Zambia, most importantly, challenges of special education in Zambia.

Well, first of all, we are going to be looking at what special education is by defining it

Special education can be defined as the process of educating student with special educational needs and disabilities in such a way that addresses there individual difference and needs.

So now that we understand what it means and why it should be necessary for every student with disabilities because education is the right of everyone no matter there status or disabilities. But today we are taking a cue from Zambia where special education is also practiced but the challenges it comes with and they are as below.

CHALLENGES OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA

• INADEQUATE FUNDING

This is one of the major setbacks facing such special institutions and has always acted as a major hindrance to the success of this schools and it students .it is obvious that the amount of money spent on education in the country is not encouraging and these special educations are the worse hit coupled with the fact that the government believes it can not do it alone and needs the help of private organizations of which many are profit oriented and would only consider if they stand to gain financially as returns from such venture.

• ECONOMY

Poverty is another major issue that plays it way into making this dream a reality. Most parents of these children with disabilities are poor and would have to struggle to keep up with feeding, clothing, and education these children since these schools are not free and hence many find themselves not getting the education they need.

• LARGE AND OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS

When the children over exceed the classrooms, this tends to be the result. Over the years the number of children with disabilities embracing education is on the increase and thus the need for more classrooms to meet their demand is on the increase too but that doesn’t seem to be the case and this is causing discomfort with this pupils with disabilities and this has resulted in these schools rejecting many students leading to many not getting educated when they are hungry for it.

• LACK OF STRUCTURES AND TRAINING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION BY MOST TEACHERS

Most teachers indicated that they lacked training in special education and felt it contributed greatly to exclusion of pupils especially those with hearing and visual impairment then another thing is lack of infrastructures like ramps, acoustic material for learning and so much more. Many of these special schools appear harsh to these pupils from lack of infrastructures to half-baked teachers.

• LACK OF COMMITMENT TOWARDS INCLUSIVE SCHOOLING

From research, it was discovered that lack of commitment by the school management, most parents and even the education ministry had been a big barrier and reasons for this could be drawn to lack of laws and policies to give direction to all educationist in the education system. if these policies were really enforced, then this educationist would be guided in regard to issues of inclusive schooling in Zambia and to see these children with disabilities as humans too and not to be treated lesser because of their conditions and background.

• NEED FOR EMPOWERMENT OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

The government of Zambia needs to do a lot in empowering and educating parents of these children so that they can also, in turn, support their children with disabilities was the case of what Savolainen reported in 2000 in the Philippines, Savolainen et al in 2000 reported that equipped with the needed skills, parent with were successful to some extent in raising public awareness and support to educate their children. The Philippines government was also lobbied and made modest contributions to support inclusive education in five piloted projects so I think the Zambian government should take a cue from this.

CONCLUSION

Well, after all, said and done and to bring to an end on this, we can now see most of the major problems facing these children who really want to go to school but are faced with this horrible challenges way beyond them.

But as the saying goes, there is no problem without a solution so let look at a few recommendations that could seem helpful if put in practice by the Zambian government and anywhere around where such challenges are in existence.

The ministry of education should try and support and also encourage in-service training in sign languages and Braille to teachers already in service and ensure that these kids are taken seriously

Budget for these schools should be looked upon and reviewed ranging from creating more classrooms, equipping these schools to standard and also offering scholarships for the poor ones because these kids are special too and who knows, one could become the next president of Zambia

The ministry of education should be up and be doing in modifying infrastructures to suit the needs of pupils with disabilities and see that their parents are empowered.
Various measures have been stated here in order to help all these challenges which Special Educational system in Zambia is facing. We strongly believe that the government will do a thing about it.

That’s all on Challenges of Special Education In Zambia

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Tags: Challenges of Special Education In Zambia

EDUCATION REFORMS IN TANZANIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE

Before we begin with this interesting topic on education reforms in ” Tanzania since independence “, let start by finding out what the word reform means. After which we can now relate it to education and then bring in our dear country Tanzania into the big picture.

REFORM

We have several definitions of the word reform and we are going to be looking at a few of them.

a reform can be defined as a means of improving or an amendment of what appears to be wrong or needs urgency in correction due to unsatisfactory motives Or we can also say or add that a reform can simply be defined as a basic means or radial change from a present form of improvement.

Or

The word reform shares a similarity to the word revolution which also signifies change from a current state of wrong to a more reformed or better one.

REASONS FOR REFORM

The reason we need reform or should I say the education sector in Tanzania needs reform is due to it deplorable state which isn’t encouraging

so therefore

a need to improve the system brings about the need for a total reformation plan. But funny enough this isn’t only similar to Tanzania but to many developing nations most especially Africa at large and few part of Asia too but not all. Although many of this developing nations get support from international financial institutions and aid agencies. But as they say, charity should begin at home as no one feels the pain better than the one who wears the shoes.

Reform comes in so many forms ranging from religious reforms which entail the churches and mosque or electoral reforms which entail politics or tax reforms to monetary to wall street reform to land reform to catalytic reforms and so much more in terms of reformation. Even we humans at some point in life need reformation but today we are not going to be talking all these reforms since our major focus for the day is on the need for educational reforms in a country called Tanzania.

Now let begin by saying that Education aside being key has had it challenges in Tanzania both the good, the bad and ugly side of it, which is not to say that every nation is free from challenges but to some extent, some appear more major than others.

EDUCATION REFORMS IN TANZANIA SINCE INDEPENDENCE

Before independence, Tanzania formerly Tanganyika had her own ways of life from culture to moral values to skills and other ways of life. But from the arrival of colonial masters to independence and till date the stages of education had taken so many shapes on reforms and we are going to be looking at that major reforms that have taken center stage since they gained independence.

The need for reforms was very crucial dating to the fact that after independence Tanzania had only 2 engineers and just 12 doctors, coupled with the fact that adult literacy was low, about 17%. Now, this great challenges added up the urgency in the need for a total reform in it education sector through policy changes and in the year 1967 a few years after independence, the nation had adopted a self-reliance education policy system.

Then it also increased focus on building a new nation workforce. Going further, education in Tanzania has its roots or genesis from there colonial masters and a very few were opportune to receive education then for so many reasons which majorly falls to enlightenment.

After the nation’s independence, the government of Tanzania had introduced major reforms to serve Tanzania’s socio-economic and political needs in order to improve the nation’s economy too. This coupled with addressing the needs of the society at large which is a burden that lies heavily on the government. In addition to this, this reforms serves as means to remove colonial authority, provide a means to economic development and to address the needs of the society.

Unfortunately, these reforms haven’t done the much-needed justice it should and the need for more reforms should be established and infused with more ideas.

The reason being that Tanzania even with it current reforms, still has many challenges and characteristics of the colonial education system.

Now let take a look at the highs and lows of the 1980s. Another major force which brought the need for a reform was the decline in growth, trade and stagnant revenue base and worse still was those donor countries who were supporting the expansion of schools in the whole country by providing capital cost began to withdraw there support and the burden alone fell upon the government at a moment they had a small tax base population growth which stands at about 3% this also played a set back.

From the 90s, enrolment in primary schools declined from 100% to 82% then the level of illiteracy went up from 10% in 1982 to 16% in 1992.

THE BASIC EDUCATION MASTER PLAN

As the nation continues to face major challenges in it educational sector, the need for policies to make changes had to come into plan. In the year 1997 Tanzania developed the basic education master plan policy to ensure growth and equitable access to high-quality formal education and adult literacy through facility expansion, efficiency gains, and quality improvements. So in implementing these policies, less developed districts and regions were given priority and preference in opening up new secondary schools by receiving government assistance to do just that.

In conclusion of Our Discussion on Education Reforms in Tanzania Since Independence ;

Reform is a solution to the current crisis facing the nation rising from the educational sector and over time it has had a better result but there is the need for more effort to be put in place to savage every problem facing the educational sector in Tanzania. We know the Tanzanian government can not do it alone due to other major challenges facing the nation but first, they need to see the importance of an education reform and making every possible effort as to make it a reality.

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Tags: Education Reform In Tanzania Since Independence

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF EDUCATION IN TANZANIA

Before the arrival of the Europeans to Africa, we have always lived by our own culture and ways of life though we didn’t know what a formal education looks like, that doesn’t mean we didn’t have our own way of getting things done. For example, if the white man used pot and stove to make meals, Africans created fire from stone and resort to roasting and other means of getting their meals cooked. Now before the arrival of the colonial masters, Africa had her own way of life from local skills, to the culture which is a way of life to moral values, social protection and much more and these traits were passed from generations to generations until the arrival of the masters. Now after the arrival of colonial masters, all that changed { Historical Background Of Education In Tanzania }.

Focusing on Tanzania { history and development of education in Tanzania }

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF EDUCATION IN TANZANIA

Shedding some light on how it all began. Many foreigners came with there own ways of life ranging from the Arabs being the first to the Portuguese, Germans and then the British rulers. Well, let’s begin by telling you from the arrivals of the Europeans to the introduction of the first educational system in a country today called Tanzania which was formally Tanganyika.

Many years ago in Tanganyika {Tanzania}, the Germans came and took control of the country and in the year 1893, the first government schools were commissioned by the Germans to educate the people and bridge communication gap and other vices, but then the education system was informal and taught by elders in the community which entails good citizenship and life skills. But then in the year 1914, tragedy broke out – War started between the Germans and British troops. Unfortunately, the German troops were defeated and Great Britain took over control and this had an effect on the educational system because a new government comes with a new plan in every aspect including the educational policy.

The war missionary and the government education system resumed and the first director of the education was appointed in 1920 and throughout the next 40 years, local powers were mandated to oversee the provision of the education.

Then in the year 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar became the united republic of Tanzania after gaining its independence from the British rulers and the new official language became Kiswahili. But at this time, private primary schools were not permitted only the government schools not until the 70s and a universal educational programme was introduced. At the time, there were no school fees thus increasing the numbers of enrolment, then in the 80s again, fees for primary and secondary schools were reintroduced and in effect, it affected the number of people getting education as many dropped because then, they didn’t see the need for an education coupled with poverty and non enlightenment.

Still on Historical Background Of Education In Tanzania …

Over the years from the mid-90s, numerous development plans and programs came into existence to help provide formal education for Tanzania children all thanks to a caring government.

Here are some highlight of these programs and they are listed below

• Education sector development program
• Primary education development plan
• Secondary education development plan
• Government expansion of secondary schools under SEDP

But currently, as we speak, the educational system dating from the onset has improved so tremendously over the years even though it still has a long way to go but a move is better than no step taken. Compared to many other African nations they are still on the low range in the aspect of Education. It sad to see that Africa is really lagging behind in so many key areas, not only in education.

Looking at education today in Tanzania and judging from the effort of it government so far, I would say that most education ends for many children after there primary education and only three out of five Tanzanian adolescent .even 52 percent of the eligible populations are enrolled in lower secondary education and fewer complete secondary education which isn’t encouraging for a growing nation having such ratio. Then to top it all, in most cases, formal vocational training is unavailable to many of the children who want it or have the passion for it.

The Tanzanian educational system is based on the system of 7-4-2-3 which mean 7 years of primary education followed by 4 years of secondary education, then 2 years more of advanced level (A level) exams in 9 subject which also includes general studies too.

But we wouldn’t deny the fact that the Tanzanian government’s commitment to education for all as an integral part of its socio-economic development started shortly after they had gotten their independence. But before independence, education access was restricted unlike now. They have had support from the world bank, international monetary fund, and a few other nation donors but in the early 1980s crisis like oil crisis, low coffee prices,drought,war with Uganda had created a major stumbling block and there relationship with this organizations .this then saw a huge reduction in resources that lead to a reversal of progress made in the quality of education at all levels ..even during the subsequent progress of the economic reform, efforts of the late 80s and 90s were stagnating including progress towards UPE..

The government’s national strategy for growth and reduction of poverty (2005) included a focus on education as a part of it social well being and quality of life. So in conclusion and from the above, it is clear that the government of Tanzania means well for it people and takes education as a priority but they are faced with many challenges.

A nation that embraces education to it fullest becomes a fully independent nation and can stay strong and become less dependent on some foreign countries so the government should see the need to make education a priority to all.

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Tags: Historical Background Of Education In Tanzania / history and development of education in Tanzania