Everyone has the right to education, as per Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Target number 4.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals also aims to ensure that by 2030, all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education, leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. 

In addition, Tanzania’s Education and Training Policy of 2014, 2023 edition clearly states that education is a crucial instrument in ensuring that a nation has educated citizens capable of contributing to its development agenda. 

These policy statements and aspirations notwithstanding, schools in Tanzania have been dismissing students for allegedly committing indiscipline acts, practices that deny children their right to education and which serve no public interest other than fueling already existing problems like gender-based violence.

The age for being enrolled in Grade One is six. Tanzania has seven years of primary school, which makes a grade seven leaver 13—the new updated policy has changed it to six, but it will come into force starting in 2027. Secondary school is for four years, which makes a Form Four leaver 17. 

If one decides to go to the High School for two years, it means a Form Six leaver will be at least 19 years old upon graduation. According to section 4(1) of the Law of the Child Act, CAP. 13 R.E. 2019, a child is anyone under the age of eighteen years. This means that Form Four leavers are children according to the laws of the land.

READ MORE: Parents Might Want Their Children to Be Taught in English. But Are Children?

The drop-out rate in primary schools in the country is lower than in secondary schools. Government data show that truancy is the leading cause of school dropouts, with indiscipline being the second biggest cause.

In late October 2024, two students of a secondary school in Tabora were dismissed from school for allegedly circulating their nude photos online. Authorities framed this as a disciplinary issue. 

Many questions

However, this raises many questions. For example, will denying students their right to education discipline them? Also, is it fair to punish a child by suspending him or her from school? Who is entirely to blame when a child makes a mistake? Is the school administration innocent? 

After dismissing the two students, Minister of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, Dorothy Gwajima urged relevant government departments to strengthen school child protection desks to help reduce moral decay and gender-based violence among students. 

Theoretically, the desks are available in every school. That is, if students are indisciplined, schools should also shoulder part of the blame and suffer consequences. How is it that when a child is found to have behaved indecently, all the blame goes to him or her, and they alone suffer consequences?

READ MORE: Raising Tanzania’s Next Generation – Skills Over Grades?

Secondary education is still basic education; therefore, dismissing a student at that level is equally unacceptable. No child should be dismissed from school for an alleged interdisciplinary issue. 

Schools are not colleges where learners are grown-up adults who are expected to be able to distinguish between right and wrong. Children are children, and it is unfair to deny their right to education over what the school administration considers an indiscipline act.

Schools are where children are expected to go and learn. If they are dismissed from school, where are they going to learn? These secondary schools’ students are in puberty, which is with foolishness and all sorts that teachers and parents must ensure a child passes the stage safely. Dismissing students exposes them to more risks. 

A lockdown in Uganda increased pregnancies for school girls during COVID-19. This is to say, it is more safe for girls to stay in school. Dismissing these adolescents is not only denying their right to education, but it also perpetuates gender inequality and other harmful practices in our communities.

Francis Nyonzo is an economist interested in social justice and digital rights. He is available at francisnyonzo@gmail.com. These are the writer’s own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of The Chanzo. Do you want to publish in this space? Contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com for further clarification.