A total of 246,197 students have been selected to join Form Five and government technical colleges in 2026, reflecting continued expansion of opportunities for upper secondary and skills-based education across the country.
The Prime Minister’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG) announced that the selection exercise had been completed in line with the 2014 Education and Training Policy, revised in 2023, and the implementation of the improved national curriculum.
The selected students include 114,102 girls and 132,095 boys, among them 631 learners with special needs.
The intake comprises candidates from government and private schools, as well as private candidates who sat their examinations through the Institute of Adult Education.
According to PMO-RALG, 172,114 students, equivalent to 69.9 percent of all successful candidates, have been admitted to Form Five studies in 856 government secondary schools nationwide.
The placements include 1,548 students assigned to eight schools designated for top-performing candidates. Another 163,499 students have been allocated to boarding schools, while 7,067 have been placed in day schools.
Meanwhile, 74,083 students, representing 30.1 percent of the total intake, have secured admission to technical and vocational institutions.
Among them, 3,144 students have been selected to pursue studies at four major technical institutions—Arusha Technical College (ATC), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the Water Management Development Institute (WMDI).
A further 2,330 students have been admitted to diploma-level health training institutions, while 2,983 have been selected for diploma teacher training programmes.
The largest group, comprising 65,626 students, has been placed in colleges offering programmes in a range of professional and technical disciplines.
The latest placements highlight the government's continued efforts to strengthen both academic and technical education pathways as demand for skilled labour grows in key sectors of the economy.
PMO-RALG said the first term for Form Five students will officially commence on July 6, 2026, with reporting scheduled to begin on July 4. The deadline for reporting is July 31.
Students assigned to technical colleges will receive admission instructions directly from the institutions to which they have been allocated.
The office emphasised that placements were made strictly on the basis of academic performance and available capacity, noting that requests for transfers or changes of schools would not be accommodated due to space limitations.
At the same time, PMO-RALG called on regional and local government authorities to continue expanding advanced-level education infrastructure, including the establishment of Form Five and Six schools in every division.
The government said increasing the number of advanced-level schools and expanding science subject combinations would help ensure that all qualified students have access to further education while reducing travel and accommodation costs for families.
PMO-RALG also acknowledged the contribution of local authorities, education stakeholders and communities in expanding school infrastructure, including classrooms, dormitories and other facilities that have enabled schools to accommodate rising enrolment.
Lists of selected students and admission forms are available through the official websites of PMO-RALG and the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NACTVET).
Students, parents and guardians seeking clarification have been advised to contact regional and council education offices or PMO-RALG's customer service centre for assistance.
