Open Access Article

Title: The effectiveness of the new education and training policy in addressing the learning crisis in Tanzania

Authors: Kitila Mkumbo

Addresses: School of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35048, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract: Using content analysis research method, the paper analyses the content of the new education and training policy in Tanzania, with a view to examining the extent to which it is geared towards promoting learning outcomes. The analysis shows that the new policy embodies some significant changes that will guide the Tanzanian education agenda for a foreseeable future. Notably, the newly introduced structure of education seems appropriate and in line with international trends regarding the number of years that children are expected to spend in basic education. Nevertheless, the main focus of the policy statements seems to be on improving access rather than learning outcomes. In particular, the policy is largely silent on the most important driver of learning: the quality of teachers. As such, it is concluded that the new policy does not seem to be adequately geared towards addressing the apparent learning crisis in Tanzania.

Keywords: Tanzania; education policy; training policy; policy statements; learning outcomes; content analysis; access improvement; teaching quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2017.084948

International Journal of Management in Education, 2017 Vol.11 No.3, pp.347 - 366

Received: 14 Apr 2016
Accepted: 23 Sep 2016

Published online: 09 Jul 2017 *