In Tanzania, School is viewed with great respect by children and parents. It is the gateway to a better future and taken very seriously. Former President, Julius Nyerere in the 1960’s, placed great importance on education. He made primary education required and funded the construction of village schools. The outcome was that, by the late 1980s, Tanzania’s literacy rate was one of the highest in Africa. But, following Nyerere’s failed agrarian socialism policies, the government funding of primary schools ended. In order for the schools to continue educating children and paying teachers’ salaries, students had to now pay fees which made school an impossible luxury for the poorest children and school enrollment quickly fell.

In certain cultures, particularly among the rural communities, it is considered pointless to educate female children as many of them are destined for an arranged marriage when they reach puberty.

Overview of the Education System

• Pre-primary School: equivalent to preschool in the US
• Primary School: equivalent to elementary and middle school in the US (Grades 1-7)
• Primary school is broken down into Standards (1-7)
  Secondary School: equivalent to high school in the US (Grades 8-11)
• Secondary school is broken down into Forms (1-4 and those who pass a national examination can buy Form 5-6 which is like college preparation)
  Form 1-4 (grades 8-11)
• Form 5 and 6 (grades 12 and 13)