Dodoma. The government has urged teachers across the country to provide detailed feedback on the rollout of the newly introduced school curricula, emphasizing that their insights are crucial for improving the quality of education.
Speaking in Dodoma while closing the annual meeting of the Tanzania Mainland Primary School Head Teachers Association (TAPSHA), Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, said teachers play an irreplaceable role in assessing how the new curricula perform in real classroom settings.
Prof. Mkenda encouraged teachers to openly share the challenges and successes they encounter as they implement the revised syllabi, noting that such input will guide further improvements.
βI ask teachers to tell us what they are seeing as they implement the new curricula. We want to hear from you, what more should be done to ensure the reforms are effective?β he said.
The minister highlighted that past shortcomings in communication skills among learners revealed deeper weaknesses in the education system. He stressed that the current reforms were developed by experts in collaboration with teachers, making field-based feedback essential.
Prof. Mkenda reminded educators that curriculum development is an ongoing process and that teachersβ experiences are key to strengthening areas that require refinement.
He also elaborated on structural adjustments introduced under the revised Education and Training Policy (2014, revised 2023), launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in February 2025. Beginning in 2027, the primary education cycle will run for six years. However, due to the phased rollout of the new curriculum, two groups of pupils will complete primary education in 2027; those taught under the old curriculum finishing in Standard Seven, and those who began under the new curriculum completing primary school in Standard Six.
Both groups will proceed to lower secondary education up to Form Four, as mandated by the new policy. Under the new curriculum, compulsory education will span ten years, comprising six years of primary education and four years of ordinary-level secondary schooling.
Prof. Mkenda noted that preparations are underway to accommodate the influx of students expected to join lower secondary school in 2028, with efforts focused on infrastructure development, teaching resources and curriculum alignment.
He commended TAPSHA for its contribution to the development of education and urged the association to continue safeguarding the welfare and professionalism of teachers. He also applauded teachers nationwide for their dedication, saying education reforms are essential for preparing young people to meet economic challenges and harness technological opportunities for national development.
The TAPSHA meeting brought together primary school head teachers from across Tanzania Mainland to discuss challenges, share experiences and reinforce professional ethics within the teaching profession.
