Ruvuma. The Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, has announced that Tanzania will begin implementing a new 10-year mandatory education policy in the 2027/28 academic year.
The change is part of the revised 2014 Education and Training Policy.
Speaking today in Ruvuma during a seminar organized by the Union of Tanzanian Women, Prof. Mkenda said that the policy will make it compulsory for all children to stay in school for 10 years.
"By 2027/28, every child must be in school for at least 10 years. If they don’t, action will be taken against the parents or guardians," he said.
The new policy will also affect how students move through the education system. In 2027/28, students who complete six years of primary school will start Form One (secondary school) alongside the last group of students completing the seven-year primary system.
That means that both groups will join secondary school at the same time.
The minister highlighted the government's efforts to improve education in response to concerns raised by Tanzanians.
"People have been complaining about the quality of education and how it prepares students for the job market," he said.
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He explained that these concerns led the government to review the 2014 Education and Training Policy and make necessary improvements.
Prof. Mkenda credited President Samia Suluhu Hassan for initiating the review process.
"President Samia directed us to review the policy so that we can better prepare students for the workforce," he added.
The changes in the education system aim to equip students with the skills needed for Tanzania’s development.
The revised policy focuses on ensuring that students receive a practical education that helps them succeed in both higher education and employment.
These reforms are expected to significantly improve the education sector and ensure that all children in Tanzania have access to quality, compulsory education.