Tanzania
- Education system
INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education
institutions:
University
Institute
University College
Open University
School leaving and higher education
credentials:
Advanced Certificate
of Secondary Education
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Bachelor Degree
Doctor
Master Degree
Postgraduate Diploma
Doctor of Philosophy
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher
education:
Duration
of compulsory education:
Age of
entry: 7
Age of
exit: 14
Structure of school system:
Basic First Stage
Type of
school providing this education: Primary School (Lower Stage)
Length
of program in years: 4
Age level from: 7 to: 11
Basic Second Stage
Type of
school providing this education: Primary School (Upper Stage)
Length
of program in years: 3
Age
level from: 11 to: 14
Certificate/diploma awarded: Primary School
Leaving Certificate
Lower Secondary
Type of
school providing this education: Lower Secondary School
Length
of program in years: 4
Age
level from: 14 to: 18
Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificate of
Secondary Education (CSE)
Upper Secondary
Type of
school providing this education: Upper Secondary School
Length
of program in years: 2
Age
level from: 18 to: 20
Certificate/diploma
awarded: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSE)
School
education:
Primary education lasts for
seven years, divided into two stages of four and three years respectively. It
culminates in the Primary SchoolÊ
Leaving Certificate. Secondary school is divided into six Forms. Lower
secondary school includes Forms I-IV and culminates in a national examination.
Those who pass obtain the Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE). The
curriculum is divided into four tracks: Agriculture, Commerce, Technical
Skills, and Home Economics. The 1992 curriculum reform introduced into each
stream three subjects: Social Studies, Computer Science and Unified Science.
Unified Science is taught as an alternative to Biology, Chemistry and Physics,
whereas Social Studies is offered as an alternative to Geography, History and
Political Science. At the high school level, pupils study subject combinations
of their choice, depending on their results in the examinations at the end of
the first cycle of secondary education. Upper secondary school includes Forms
V-VI and culminates in a national examination. Those who pass obtain the
Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSE). Students must choose three
principal subjects from the following: Languages, Arts and Social Sciences,
Sciences and Mathematics, Commercial Subjects, and Military Science and
Technology. The fourth subject is Political Education and is compulsory. Some
secondary schools are technically oriented. The ACSE gives access to higher
education. Students successfully completing the Certificate of Secondary
Education may continue their studies at technical colleges which offer
Certificate and Diploma level training.
Higher
education:
Higher education is provided by
nine universities and several training colleges and institutes. In addition
there are several training centres designed primarily for Form VI-leavers. All
higher education institutions are under the supervision of the Ministry of
Science, Technology and Higher Education. The Universities are semi-autonomous
and manage their own affairs under the Vice-Chancellor, who is appointed by the
President of Tanzania. Their running costs are subsidized by the Government.
Academic
year:
Classes
from: Sep to: Jul
Languages
of instruction: English
Stages
of studies:
Non-university level post-secondary studies
(technical/vocational type):
Non-university
level:
In the last decade,
the number of technical, vocational, and professional schools has increased
substantially. They are the responsibility of the relevant Government Ministry
under which they fall. The schools which award Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced
Diplomas and Postgraduate Diplomas are categorized according to the type of
programme offered. Diploma programmes, lasting two years, require Form VI and
work experience. Certificates require two to three years' study. The
Technician's Certificate requires two years of study. The Full Technician's
Certificate requires three years of study. Advanced Diploma programmes, lasting
three years, require Form VI and work experience. Postgraduate Diploma
programmes require a Degree or Bachelor for admission and generally last one
year.
University level studies:
University
level first stage: Undergraduate level:
The first phase leads to a Bachelor's Degree. It
usually lasts for three years, except for Pharmacy, Nursing, Veterinary Science
and Engineering, which take four years, and Medicine, which takes five years.
At the Open University courses generally last six years.
University
level second stage: Graduate level:
A further one to three years' study leads to a
Master's Degree. Postgraduate Diplomas require a Bachelor's Degree for
admission and, generally, one year of study.
University
level third stage: Postgraduate level:
A minimum of a
further two years' original research and submission of a thesis lead to a PhD.
Teacher education:
Training
of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
The Grade C Certificate entitles the holders to
teach in the first two grades of primary education. The Grade B Certificate is
obtained by promotion or by successfully completing a four-year course at a
teacher training college after grade 7. The Grade A Certificate is obtained on
successful completion of a two-year course at the end of Form IV and entitles
the holder to teach in all seven grades of primary education.
Training
of secondary school teachers
A two-year Diploma
course at a College of National Education is required, after passing the ACSE,
for teaching at lower secondary level. Teachers for upper secondary level
should hold a Bachelor of Education or a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Opportunities for in-service training have increased with the creation of
village-based teacher training programmes.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance
higher education
Distance education is offered by the Open
University of Tanzania which opened in 1993 in Dar-es-Salaam. It provides
courses in Law, Science, Arts, and Education leading to Bachelor Degrees.
Lifelong
higher education
There are over 300
institutions offering specialist training at post-Form IV (or Form VI) level,
leading to Certificates or Diplomas atÊ
semi-professional level in a wide variety of disciplines.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration
& co-ordination:
Responsible
authorities:
Ministry of Science,
Technology and Higher Education
Head: Ng'wandu Pius, Minister
PO Box
2645, Jamhuri Street
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Tel: +255(22)
211-2546ÊÊ +255(22) 211-6331
Fax: +255(22) 211-2805
WWW: http://www.tanzania.go.tz/science.htm
Committee of
Vice-Chancellors and Principals in Tanzania
Head: Matthew Luhanga, Chairman
University
of Dar es Salaam
PO Box 33091
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission
to non university higher education studies
Name of
secondary school credential required: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education
For
entry to: Diploma and Advanced Diplomas at
postsecondary,vocational/technical/professional schools
Alternatives
to credentials:
Certificate of Secondary
Education (11 years of primary and secondary school study) for Full Technician
Certificate and Nurse Grade A Diploma.
Admission
to university-level studies
Name of
secondary school credential required: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education
Minimum
score/requirement: Passes in 5 approved subjects in Certificate of Secondary Education
For
entry to: University studies.
Alternatives
to credentials: Mature Age Entry Examination Scheme.
Foreign
students admission
Admission
requirements: Foreign students should have qualifications equivalent to the Advanced
Certificate of Secondary Education or the East African General Certificate of
Education (GCE) with 2 AdvancedÊ
("A") levels and 5 Ordinary ("O") levels.
Language
requirements: Students must be fluent in English.
Application
procedures:
Apply
to:
Ministry of Science,
Technology and Higher Education
PO Box 2645, Jamhuri
Street
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Tel: +255(22) 211-2546
Fax: +255(22) 211-2805
WWW: http://www.tanzania.go.tz/science.htm
Multilateral
agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies
Name of
agreement: Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees
and Other Academic Qualifications in Higher Education in the African States
Year of
signature: 1981
STUDENT LIFE
Student
expenses and financial aid
Student
costs:
Home
students tuition fees: Minimum: 900000 (Tanzanian Shilling)
Maximum:
1500000
(Tanzanian Shilling)
Publications
on student services and financial aid:
Title: Study Abroad,
2000-2001
Publisher:
UNESCO
Year of
publication: 1999
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION & EXCHANGES
Principal
national bodies responsible for dealing with international cooperation and
exchanges in higher education:
Ministry of Science,
Technology and Higher Education
PO Box 2645, Jamhuri
Street
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Tel: +255(22)
211-2546ÊÊ +255(51) 211-6331
Fax: +255(22) 211-2805
WWW: http://www.tanzania.go.tz/science.htm
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual
grading system in secondary school
Full
Description: A-E principal passes; S subsidiary pass; F fail
Highest
on scale: A
Pass/fail
level: S
Lowest
on scale: F
Main
grading system used by higher education institutions
Full
Description: Degrees are classified: 1st class Honours; 2nd class Honours (upper); 2nd
class Honours (lower); pass
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for
academic year: 2000-2001
Source: International Association of Universities (IAU) updated from IBE website, 2001