The non-governmental organization KINNAPA is urging Tanzanian communities to take full advantage of the government’s policy allowing girls who dropped out of school mainly due to early pregnancies to resume their education, stressing that this is a critical opportunity for long-term social transformation.
Speaking in Babati, Manyara Region, KINNAPA Coordinator Abraham Akilimali said the organization has successfully facilitated the return of over 200 previously out-of-school children most of them girls across five districts through its flagship initiative dubbed “Mpe Nafasi” (Give Her a Chance).
“The government's policy under the sixth-phase administration has opened a new chapter for girls’ education. It is now upon parents, leaders, and the wider society to ensure this opportunity does not go to waste,” said Akilimali during a press briefing.
He said the initiative has seen reintegration of students in Simanjiro, Kiteto, and Babati in Manyara, and Siha and Hai in Kilimanjaro Region, thanks to close collaboration between KINNAPA, local government authorities, development partners, and the community.
“Since the inception of the project, we’ve returned over 200 children to school. We’ve also established and empowered more than 20 school clubs and conducted training and dialogue sessions with traditional and religious leaders, as well as education officers across the five districts,” Akilimali added.
According to KINNAPA’s Community Development Officer, Paulina Ngurumwa, many of the girls had discontinued their education due to pregnancies, early marriages, and harmful cultural norms.
She emphasized the importance of continued awareness efforts to address the root causes of school dropout.
Babati District Education Officer, Judith Materu, acknowledged the progress made, but noted that challenges remain. “So far this year, 21 students have returned to school 10 girls and 11 boys. However, poverty and lack of essential supplies still hinder many girls from returning or staying in school,” she said.
Materu highlighted ongoing collaboration between the district and parents to ensure that returning students receive the support they need, and that communities understand the transformative value of education.
Manyara Regional Community Development Officer, January Bikuba, said coordinated efforts are yielding positive results in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV). He cited a drop in reported GBV cases from 330 in 2022 to 293 in 2024 with only 56 cases reported between January and June 2025.
“Despite progress, stigma and fear of retaliation remain major barriers. We’ve responded by scaling up legal aid services and strengthening gender desks in our communities,” said Bikuba.
Babati District Social Welfare Officer, Mathias Focus, pointed out that economic violence and the tendency to settle cases within families continue to undermine efforts to eliminate abuse against women and children.
KINNAPA has called on the media and the public to help raise awareness on the 2021 Education Circular No. 2 and the February 2022 implementation guidelines, which mandate the re-admission of all children especially girls who had dropped out due to various reasons.
Journalist Joseph Bura, who participated in the media engagement session, said the press has a critical role to play in breaking cultural barriers.
“We are committed to using our platforms to sensitize communities, particularly pastoralist societies, on the importance of allowing their daughters to complete their education,” he said.
KINNAPA’s campaign aligns with national and global commitments to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, gender equality, and protection of children’s rights especially those at risk of being left behind.