The Government has announced 1,050 top-performing students from the 2026 Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) who will benefit from the Samia Scholarship programme, with 50 outstanding students set to pursue studies abroad in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science and other emerging technologies.
Speaking to journalists in Dodoma on July 27, 2026, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Professor Adolf Mkenda said the programme was introduced following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive to identify and develop exceptional talent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The initiative aims to prepare a new generation of highly skilled professionals capable of supporting Tanzania’s digital transformation, innovation and economic development.
Professor Mkenda said 1,000 selected students will receive full scholarships to study at local universities, while the top 50 students will be sponsored to pursue specialised programmes abroad in areas considered strategic for the future economy.
The beneficiaries were selected from science-based combinations including Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM); Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB); Chemistry, Biology and Geography (CBG); Physics, Mathematics and Geography (PMG); Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CBA); and Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science (PMC).
He explained that students awarded local scholarships will be required to secure admission at Tanzanian universities for degree programmes in Mathematics, Science, Engineering or Medicine before completing the scholarship registration process.
Once admitted, the Government will cover tuition fees and other approved academic costs under the scholarship programme.
Professor Mkenda said the list of successful applicants has been published on the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s website, urging students to verify their names and follow the required procedures to access the opportunity.
For the 50 students selected for overseas studies, the minister said priority was given to candidates from PCM, PMG and PMC combinations because of their strong foundation in Advanced Mathematics.
“These students will be sent abroad to study Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and other advanced technologies that are essential for the digital economy,” Professor Mkenda said.
He clarified that the selection was based on students’ actual examination scores rather than grades alone, explaining that students with similar grades could have different total marks.
The minister said the Government maintained transparency throughout the selection process to protect the credibility of the Samia Scholarship programme.
Students who believe they were unfairly left out have been advised to contact the Ministry for clarification, including verification of their examination performance through the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA).
Professor Mkenda further revealed that 58 percent of the selected students come from public schools, while 42 percent are from private schools, emphasising that selection was based purely on academic performance and the programme’s criteria.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to use the opportunity responsibly by maintaining discipline, hard work and commitment, saying the investment is aimed at building a skilled workforce that will enhance Tanzania’s competitiveness in science, technology and innovation.
