Safina scholarship holders’ hopes for a new education policy.

On January 8, 2024, all primary and secondary schools in Tanzania reopened. The scholarship holders from the Safina Street Network in Dodoma expressed their hopes and thoughts on the new education policy. They emphasized the need to successfully implement the new education and training policy in the academic year 2024. It is particularly important that all teachers understand the new policy in order to be able to teach pupils effectively.

The students highlighted that the long-awaited new policy, which had been in the pipeline since 2014, now brings hope for change in the education system. They emphasized that the implementation of new teaching methods and the provision of regular workshops and seminars are crucial to enable teachers to meet the new requirements. Differences between rural and urban schools in terms of materials and training programs should also be taken into account to ensure equal opportunities.

Another important point was the equal distribution of resources so that all pupils can benefit from the new policy. Parents should ensure that their children attend school regularly in order to achieve the goals of the new education policy, especially the teaching of practical skills. It was also demanded that both private and public teachers be given equal opportunities to take part in further training programs.

The pupils praised the new curriculum, which includes subjects such as “History of Tanzania” and aims to promote patriotism. Regular examinations, tests and exercises are necessary to monitor learning progress. It was also pointed out that pupils with special needs should be given priority in the improvements to education policy in order to ensure inclusion.

Overall, the new education and training policy aims to provide students with practical skills and achieve a shift from a theory-based to a practice-oriented curriculum.