$122m grant to support education

Diplomatic tensions between Tanzania and Rwanda appeared set to escalate as the two countries once again traded accusation over the latter’s alleged backing of rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. TEA Graphic 

By CHRISTOPHER KIDANKA, The EastAfrica
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The World Bank has given the Big Results Now Initiative $122 million in grants to improve the quality of education in primary and secondary schools in Tanzania.

The World Bank executive directors also approved further support to the ongoing science and technology higher education project, which aims to produce a highly skilled workforce to fast-track economy growth.

 

The Tanzanian education system has been facing challenges in recent years including inadequate budget and lack of science laboratories in secondary schools.

According to a statement released by the World Bank and the new programme-for-result lending instrument, the money will be released in bits in four years.

“The World Bank is delighted to support programmes that invest smartly in education, because skilled and talented young people are going to be Tanzania’s wealth as the economy grows, diversifies, and moves from low-income to middle-income status,” said Philippe Dongie, the World Bank country director for Tanzania,

Arun Joshi, World Bank education specialist, said the grant is a direct intervention in the challenges facing Tanzania’s education system.

Decline in quality

There has been an outcry from Members of Parliament, civil society organisations and the general public about the declining quality of education in Tanzania.

Giving details of the pre-agreed results that will attract further funds disbursement, the World Bank said the results include deployment of teachers equitably across the country, getting capitation grants to schools on time, gathering data and monitoring results.

The programme also aims at motivating teachers to spend more time in classrooms with students.

Tanzania will also receive an additional $15 million credit for the science and technology and higher education project to increase the number of graduates with relevant skills in order to address the shortage of qualified science teachers in secondary schools.

“This project will strengthen the linkage between higher education and industry, and develop a roadmap for skills development in priority growth sectors,” said Mr Joshi.

According to recently released World Bank statistics, every year an average of 800,000 people enter Tanzania’s labour market but the majority dont have the kills sought by employers.