In Tanzania, education is mandatory for kids, until they attain the age of 15 years. The rate of gross enrolment reached 110.3% in the year 2006. The net primary enrollment was at the rate of 97.8%. The ratios of gross and net enrollment depend on the students’ number and are officially registered in primary schools and hence they do not unnecessarily replicate on school attendance. Fifty seven percent of the kids in the age group of 5 to 7 years went to school in 2007.

According to 2006 year findings, 87.2%of the kids, who began in primary school, have reached the fifth grade.

Primary schools

In the year 2002 primary school tuition was abolished, however the parent has to bear the expense for the uniforms, school provisions and testing fees. The abolishment of tuition has led to an enormous increase in the student number admitted in primayschools. There are no adequate resources. Insufficient classrooms, teachers and books prevail and right from form 1, the family has to face the burden of paying the fees for uniform, books and admission fees.

There are several private institutions which differ a bit from government schools. The private schools teach English, while the native language Swahili is taught in govenment schools.

In order to get the primary school certificate, the kids has to take up the regular national exam. As per the 2009 statistics, Swahili is the subject, which has the credit of having the highest pass marks with 69.08%, and Maths has a very low passing rate at 20.96%. In the year 2010, 89.5% of the qualified students were admitted into the public secondary institutions.

Secondary school

Though the government secondary institutors are not with free tuitions, they are taught for an amount of TSH 20,000 every year (approximately $15 USD). Apart from the tuition fees, there are other numerous fees like caution fees, testing fees, academic contribution, watchman contribution, identity fee, furniture contribution, lunch fees, and emblem fees. All these collective fees become a burden for several families particularly for the bigger families, orphans and the single parent families.

There are 2 levels in the secondary education, from form 1 to 4, it is open level. After the conclusion of form 2, the students has to take a national regular exam, and another standard exam at form 4‘s conclusion. On successful clearing of these exams, a certificate is issued to the victorious students.

University education

After the completion of the secondary education, the students take up college or university education.

Tanzania boasts of having a number of well-known universities

Some of the renowned universities

International Medical and Technological University (IMTU), established 1995

Hubert Kairuki Memorial University (HKMU), founded in 1997

Ardhi University, formed in 2007

Mount Meru University

Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies

Muslim University of Morogoro (MUM)

Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)

Open University of Tanzania (OUT)

Mzumbe University (MU)

St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT)

Ruaha University College (RUCO)

Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA)

St. John University of Tanzania (SJUT)

Theophile Kisanji University

State University of Zanzibar