The 2025 Uhuru Torch (Mwenge wa Uhuru) race has spotlighted a significant education initiative in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, where a modern girls’ secondary school Tukuta Secondary School has been constructed by a local NGO to serve the pastoralist community.
Leading the Uhuru Torch campaign, Ismail Ussi commended the initiative by Toima, the Chairperson of ECLAT Development Foundation and the ruling party (CCM) Regional Chairman for Manyara, for championing inclusive education and committing resources to the construction of the new school located in Terrat Ward.
“If the Chairman had sought personal gain, he could have diverted the funds for political mileage. Instead, he made a bold and selfless decision to invest in the future of girls in this region,” Ussi said.
“This is the kind of leadership we must support leadership that aligns with national development goals and genuinely uplifts communities.”
Ussi added that Toima’s commitment reflects a broader national push for public-private collaboration in addressing pressing social challenges such as access to education, especially among marginalized populations like pastoralist girls.
The Tukuta Secondary School project, implemented by ECLAT in partnership with Upendo Foundation of Germany, aims to improve access to quality education for girls in remote and underserved areas.
According to Toima, the project will be handed over to the government upon completion, ensuring its sustainability and integration into the national education system.
“We are determined to ensure that no girl is left behind. This school is our response to a long-standing challenge where girls from pastoralist families were denied the opportunity to pursue secondary education,” Toima said.
“We expect to complete the classrooms by August 2025, allowing the first intake of students to begin their studies.”he added
Project Coordinator Bakiri Angalia outlined the scope of the school’s first construction phase, which includes drilling and distributing clean water through a new borehole, constructing four classrooms, two administration offices, a dormitory, eight-pit latrine toilets, and staff housing.
Angalia said the school is designed to operate as a boarding institution to minimize dropout rates and provide a safe, learning-conducive environment for girls, many of whom face cultural and logistical barriers to accessing education.
“Our goal is to promote gender parity by ensuring that girls from pastoralist backgrounds have equal access to quality education,” Angalia explained.
“We are also contributing to national efforts to reduce early school dropout, enhance academic performance among girls, and create equitable learning environments across the country.”he added
The project underscores how local innovation, community leadership, and international cooperation can collectively drive transformation in Tanzania’s education sector especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
As the Uhuru Torch continues its journey across the country, the message from Simanjiro is clear: when communities invest in girls’ education, they invest in a stronger, more inclusive future for the nation.