Zanzibar has made a decisive shift in transforming its education sector, with modern school infrastructure now aligned with the demands of 21st century learning, President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has said.
The President, who is also Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, made the remarks on January 10, 2026, during the official opening of two multi-storey Ramadhan Haji Faki schools in Gamba, North Unguja Region, as well as a newly built technical school in Pemba.
The projects mark a major milestone in the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar’s drive to improve access to quality education through durable and well-equipped facilities.
Dr. Mwinyi said the new schools are part of a deliberate government strategy to completely phase out makeshift classrooms and replace them with permanent structures that meet modern education standards.
He noted that quality infrastructure plays a critical role in improving teaching efficiency, learning outcomes and overall student discipline, adding that the government remains committed to investing heavily in the education sector.
He called on students to value the investment made on their behalf by studying hard and making full use of the improved learning environment, stressing that infrastructure alone cannot deliver results without dedication and responsibility from learners themselves.
The President also highlighted the importance of school dormitories, saying their construction will address long-standing challenges faced by students who previously lived far from school premises.
He said the absence of proper boarding facilities had affected academic performance for some learners, and urged students to use the new dormitories as an opportunity to focus on their studies and improve results.
Providing technical details of the projects, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Khamis Abdalla Said, said the Gamba school was built at a cost of TZS11.2 billion by ZECON Company and has the capacity to accommodate up to 800 students at one time.
He added that the Pemba Technical School cost TZS9.4 billion and was constructed by SALEM Construction.
The projects were implemented through a partnership between the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, BADEA, reflecting Zanzibar’s broader strategy of strengthening the education sector while investing in long-term human capital development to support social and economic growth.