• Government unveils Teachers’ Council, digital learning, and AI integration plans
• Focus on inclusion, digital skills, and aligning education with labor market needs
• Policy aims to reduce youth unemployment and strengthen knowledge economy

Tanzania hosted the 5th International Quality Education Conference (IQEC2025) from September 24 to 26 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, where it presented its vision for the future of its school system.

The event gathered over 400 policymakers, educators, NGOs, and experts from 14 countries. Tanzania emphasized its determination to leave no child behind, including girls, children with disabilities, and those from rural areas, while transforming its teaching profession into a core engine for the shift toward tomorrow's economy.

Key Policy Initiatives

During the three-day conference, the government showcased its flagship initiatives. These include allocating 14% of national tax revenue to educational projects and creating an independent Teachers’ Council to oversee professional ethics and continuous training. Central to this strategy is the integration of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching practices.

If realized, these ambitions could revolutionize the connection between schooling and jobs. By removing access barriers and professionalizing educators, the country aims to reduce graduate unemployment, often caused by a mismatch between training and private sector needs.

The use of digital learning tools, adaptive platforms, and coding modules is expected to open new opportunities, particularly in emerging technological careers. A 2025 survey by Tanzania Investment and Consultant Group Ltd (TICGL) found that 82% of respondents believe digitization has strengthened job prospects, especially in e-commerce, digital financial services, and remote work. On a macroeconomic level, this shift could help move part of the country's workforce—estimated at 33 million by TradingEconomics—from informal employment toward more stable, structured jobs.

Structural Hurdles

The effectiveness of skills-based training is already proven: the World Bank-backed Education and Skills for Productive Jobs (ESPJ) project trained 45,700 trainees with an estimated job insertion rate of 80.9%, while the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) had an average placement rate of 65% six months after training.

Despite this progress, significant challenges persist. Research and innovation funding represents only 0.3% of the country’s GDP, an insufficient level to support a knowledge economy. The education system struggles to convert national policies into sustainable local initiatives, and substantial disparities remain between urban and rural regions.

Carolyne Nombo, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, stressed the importance of the human element in learning. "As a government, we have put in place good mechanisms to ensure that all children who are capable of attending school do so without any challenges. Also, we will continue to invest a lot in teachers because they are the ones at the center of propelling this crucial sector, hence it is very important to invest in them," Nombo said. 

The priorities highlighted at the IQEC, which center on inclusion and integrating digital skills, align with expert consensus on structural transformation. Strengthening pedagogical capacity alongside the thoughtful use of technology represents a central lever for sustainable growth and reducing youth unemployment. Tanzania is confirming its trajectory in hopes that these commitments will quickly yield tangible results.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou