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The Government has announced a major expansion of access to higher education funding, with the number of students benefiting from the Higher Education Students’ Loans expected to rise to 292,981 in the 2026/27 financial year.
Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, said the government is strengthening efforts to ensure more young Tanzanians access university education, alongside coordinated admission of 180,000 students expected to join various undergraduate programmes in higher learning institutions.
Prof. Mkenda said the number of students benefiting from higher education loans will increase from 252,773 in 2025/26 to 292,981 in 2026/27, reflecting the government’s continued commitment to expanding education opportunities for students from all backgrounds.
He made the announcement on May 7, 2026, in Dodoma while presenting the Ministry’s budget estimates for the 2026/27 financial year in Parliament.
The Minister said the government will also continue providing loans to 24,978 diploma students pursuing science and technical courses, aimed at building a strong base of skilled professionals to support industrial growth and national development.
He further noted that the government will continue supporting high-performing students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through the Samia Scholarship programme.
Under this initiative, the number of beneficiaries will increase from 2,630 students in 2025/26 to 2,738 students in 2026/27.
Prof. Mkenda also highlighted the Samia Extended Scholarship DS/AI+ programme, under which the number of students will double from 50 to 100.
These students will be sponsored to study undergraduate programmes in leading universities abroad, focusing on data science, applied sciences, and artificial intelligence.
In addition, the government will continue to support students pursuing master’s degrees in nuclear science and technology, as part of efforts to strengthen national capacity in advanced scientific and technological fields.
Prof. Mkenda said these initiatives are designed to ensure that more Tanzanian youth access quality education, especially in priority areas that drive innovation, industrialization, and economic growth.
He emphasized that the government remains committed to ensuring fairness and inclusivity in the distribution of loans and scholarships, so that no qualified student is left behind due to financial constraints.
According to him, increased investment in education is a key pillar in building a skilled and competitive workforce capable of supporting Tanzania’s long-term development goals and global competitiveness.
