Tanzania is a beautiful, peaceful country of about 40 million people in East Africa. It is also, unfortunately, one of the poorest countries in the world with the World Factbook putting it at number 202 of 229 countries by per capita GDP. The World Bank estimates that 82% of the population is living on $1.25 or less per day. The poverty of the nation combined with the fact that more than half of its population is under 18 years of age has made it very difficult to provide the proper educational opportunities necessary.
Primary Education (Standard 1 - Standard 7) is universal, with those passing their examinations at the end of the seven years having the option to go on to Secondary School. Secondary Education is divided into two parts, O-Level (Form 1 - Form 4) and A-Level (Form 5 - Form 6). There are national examinations in Form 2, Form 4, and Form 6. Students must pass these exams to continue their education. Additionally, only the top students are taken from Form 4 to join A-Level and only the top students are taken from Form 6 to study at the University.
The government has built many new secondary schools to accomodate as many students as possible, but these new schools start out lacking books and teaching materials, adequate furniture, and have few teachers. The government cannot afford to pay non-teaching staff and has had a freeze on hiring for several years. The lack of qualified teachers in the country has led to a recent program where students finishing Form 6 can apply to join a 10 week crash course and then be employed as teachers, rather than the usual two years at teacher training college. The government is restricted in how much money it can put into education by the donor countries which have financed its loans.
Tanzania is a beautiful, peaceful country of about 40 million people in East Africa. It is also, unfortunately, one of the poorest countries in the world with the World Factbook putting it at number 202 of 229 countries by per capita GDP. The World Bank estimates that 82% of the population is living on $1.25 or less per day. The poverty of the nation combined with the fact that more than half of its population is under 18 years of age has made it very difficult to provide the proper educational opportunities necessary.
Primary Education (Standard 1 - Standard 7) is universal, with those passing their examinations at the end of the seven years having the option to go on to Secondary School. Secondary Education is divided into two parts, O-Level (Form 1 - Form 4) and A-Level (Form 5 - Form 6). There are national examinations in Form 2, Form 4, and Form 6. Students must pass these exams to continue their education. Additionally, only the top students are taken from Form 4 to join A-Level and only the top students are taken from Form 6 to study at the University.
The government has built many new secondary schools to accomodate as many students as possible, but these new schools start out lacking books and teaching materials, adequate furniture, and have few teachers. The government cannot afford to pay non-teaching staff and has had a freeze on hiring for several years. The lack of qualified teachers in the country has led to a recent program where students finishing Form 6 can apply to join a 10 week crash course and then be employed as teachers, rather than the usual two years at teacher training college. The government is restricted in how much money it can put into education by the donor countries which have financed its loans.
Tanzania is a beautiful, peaceful country of about 40 million people in East Africa. It is also, unfortunately, one of the poorest countries in the world with the World Factbook putting it at number 202 of 229 countries by per capita GDP. The World Bank estimates that 82% of the population is living on $1.25 or less per day. The poverty of the nation combined with the fact that more than half of its population is under 18 years of age has made it very difficult to provide the proper educational opportunities necessary.
Primary Education (Standard 1 - Standard 7) is universal, with those passing their examinations at the end of the seven years having the option to go on to Secondary School. Secondary Education is divided into two parts, O-Level (Form 1 - Form 4) and A-Level (Form 5 - Form 6). There are national examinations in Form 2, Form 4, and Form 6. Students must pass these exams to continue their education. Additionally, only the top students are taken from Form 4 to join A-Level and only the top students are taken from Form 6 to study at the University.
The government has built many new secondary schools to accomodate as many students as possible, but these new schools start out lacking books and teaching materials, adequate furniture, and have few teachers. The government cannot afford to pay non-teaching staff and has had a freeze on hiring for several years. The lack of qualified teachers in the country has led to a recent program where students finishing Form 6 can apply to join a 10 week crash course and then be employed as teachers, rather than the usual two years at teacher training college. The government is restricted in how much money it can put into education by the donor countries which have financed its loans.