For students in grades one through five, Tanzania’s Ministry of Education has discontinued boarding schools. The directive became effective from March 1, 2023.
The abolishment should be put into effect by the end of the first term of this year, according to a letter from the ministry’s education commissioner, Dr. Lyabwene Mtahabwa, to stakeholders in the country’s education system.
“It is not allowed to provide boarding services to pupils of nursery and standard one except with a special permit that will be issued by the commissioner of education after receiving an application from the relevant stakeholder,” the commissioner notes.
According to Dr. Mtahabwa, the action is a component of carrying out the ministry’s November 2020 recommendations for the start of school registration.
On the other hand, she asserted, a child’s growth and development are greatly reliant on the significant contribution made by the family, specifically the child’s parents or legal guardians.
“However, it has been found that there are some schools that have been receiving young pupils from nursery to Standard Four,” she said.
Dr. Mtahabwa stated that academic camps are not permitted at any school while speaking about student camps.
According to her, this is how the 2007 Education Circular No. 3 addressing the prohibition of academic camps in elementary schools is being put into effect.
“Due to various research done by the ministry, many schools have focused on making students pass their exams, and among the strategies used by the schools to succeed in that is the establishment of boarding and academic camps that are conducted during holidays and that lead to weak efforts to build students’ morale,” she stated.
Also, if the agreement is executed correctly, there will be periodic follow-up, and if any schools are discovered to be in violation, sanctions such as disciplinary action, legal action, or registration cancellation will be taken.
In an effort to strengthen the sector, the government intends to take drastic action against abandoned horticulture plantations in the Arusha Area.