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Tanzania government has released a circular
detailing how the new free education policy will be implemented starting
January next year.
Government Circular Number 5 of
2015 is part of implementation of the Education and Training Policy 2014 -- as
well as implementation of the promise by President John Magufuli to provide
free education to all Tanzanian children from primary to secondary level.
Signed
by Tanzania Commissioner of Education, Professor Eustella Bhalalusesa, the
directive revokes all other previous circulars that were providing for various
contributions that were being made by parents and guardians in public schools.
“Provision
of free education means pupils or students will not pay any fee or other
contributions that were being provided by parents or guardians before the
release of new circular,’’ reads the circular in part. Before the release of a
new circular, secondary school students studying in day schools were paying
20,000/- fee while those in boarding schools were paying 40,000/-.
The schools, according to the
circular, will continue with their current arrangements until another circular
is released. The new system, expected to be a relief to millions of parents and
guardians across the country, is a result of the campaign pledges made by Dr
Magufuli in the just-concluded general election. The Head of State affirmed
that Education would be free from Standard One to Form Four.
Dr
Magufuli reiterated his intention for free education when inaugurating
parliament last month. “And when I say free education, I indeed mean free,” he
vowed, saying effective next year, education will be free with no any
contribution in whatever name and form.
Beginning
next year, free education will have an impact on the quality of education,
according to the circular which directs responsible institutions under the
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to plan for the best education
that will foster national development.
