The government has announced a new education curriculum, set to be rolled out in 2028, aimed at equipping young Tanzanians with skills to secure employment or start their own businesses after secondary school.
Under the reforms, education will be compulsory up to secondary level, and primary school will end at Standard Six instead of Seven, aligning learning with current labor market demands.
Education Minister Prof. Adolf Mkenda said in Dar es Salaam on December 10, 2025, that the reforms reflect President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of a modern, practical education system.
The new curriculum introduces two streams at secondary level: general education and vocational education, both designed to boost practical and technical skills.
“In the new system, students will complete Standard Six and join four years of lower secondary education. Secondary education will equip them with core skills, enabling them to enter the workforce or continue to higher learning,” Prof. Mkenda said.
He explained that the current 7+4+3+2 system will be replaced with either 6+4+2 or 3+3, depending on the chosen study track.
Vocational education will provide hands-on skills. Students who complete Form Four will receive both VETA and secondary school certificates, allowing them to join the job market immediately. To support this, the government is building 103 technical schools across the country.
Prof. Mkenda added that Business, Tanzanian History, and Ethics will be compulsory in secondary schools.
English will be taught from Standard One, while Swahili will be included in English-medium schools.
The reforms are designed to address current system challenges and better prepare youth for productive life and employment.
The Minister noted that Tanzania has been among the few countries offering less than nine years of compulsory education, which has slowed progress.
The new system will expand access to secondary education, where currently over 75 percent of primary school graduates continue.
The government is preparing to admit the large cohort of Standard Six graduates in 2027. With school starting at age six, children will graduate at 13, and the new curriculum ensures they are ready to enter employment or start their own businesses.
Prof. Mkenda emphasized that the reforms are vital for the nation’s future, aiming to make education responsive to the needs of a new generation, improve quality, and lay the foundation for an industrial and knowledge-based economy.