United Republic of Tanzania
At 945,087 km², Tanzania is the world's 31st-largest country. It is slightly bigger than double the size of Finland or the U.S. state of California.
Geography
Border countries: Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km.
Capital: Dodoma
Biggest city: Dar Es Salaam
Official language: Swahili
Tanzania:
total: 945 087 sq km (land: 886 037 sq km and water: 59 050 sq km)
Finland:
total: 390 920 sq km (land: 304 086 sq km and water: 86 834 sq km)
People
Tanzania:
population is 38 329 000
growth rate of 2%
Finland:
population is 5 276 955
growth rate of 0,13%
Tanzania:
0-14 years: 44%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 3%
Finland:
0-14 years: 17%
15-64 years: 67%
65 years and over: 16%
USA
0-14 years: 20%
15-64 years: 67%
65 years and over: 13%
Tanzania:
Total population: 51 years
male: 49 years
female: 52 years
Finland:
Total population: 79 years
male: 76 years
female: 83 years
USA:
total population: 78 years
male: 75 years
female: 81 years
More than 80% of the population is rural. Tanzania still has a very high unemployment rate, which is about 67% (compare Finland 7%).
The African population consists of more than 120 ethnic groups, of which the Sukuma, Haya, Nyakyusa, Nyamwezi, and Chagga have more than 1 million members.
Each ethnic group has its own language. No language is official, but Swahili is the official national language, used for intertribal communication and for official matters. After independence, English, the language of colonial administration during the era of British rule, was still used for some official issues, and was thus considered official alongside Swahili.
Tanzania is a religiously divided society. It is difficult to determine which is the largest religion, since this question, together with tribal affiliation, has not been answered in the national census. According to the CIA Factbook, on the mainland Muslims account for 35% of the population, an estimated 30% of the population is Christian, and 35% adheres to traditional faiths. On Zanzibar, by contrast, the population is 99% Muslim.
History and independence
Full independence was achieved on December 9, 1961. Nyerere was elected President when Tanganyika became a republic within the Commonwealth a year after independence.
In 1963 Zanzibar achieved independence from the United Kingdom in the form of a constitutional monarchy under the sultan, but a popular revolt in 1964 against the sultan soon led to the unification of Zanzibar with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. The name Tanzania is a combination of Tanganyika and Zanzibar and previously had no significance.
Land
About 7 per cent of Tanzania land surface is covered by lakes which border the country apart from other inland lakes. These include lake Victoria (second largest fresh water lake in the world), Lake Tanganyika (second deepest lake in the world), and Lake Nyasa. Inland lakes include Lakes Rukwa, Eyasi and Manyara.
Agriculture is the foundation of the Tanzanian economy. It accounts for about half of the national income, three quarters of merchandise exports and is source of food and provides employment opportunities to about 80 percent of Tanzanians. Agriculture in Tanzania is dominated by smallholder farmers (peasants) cultivating an average farm sizes of between 0.9 hectares and 3.0 hectares each. About 70 percent of Tanzania’s crop area is cultivated by hand hoe, 20 percent by ox plough and 10 percent by tractor. Women constitute the main part of agricultural labor force.
The sale of food crops is the most important source of cash income.
GDP
Tanzania
Total: USD 29.64 billion
Per capita: USD 800
Finland
Total: USD 175,2 billion
Per capita: USD 33,500
USA
Total: USD 13,6 trillion
Per capita: USD 43,800
Petroleum, hydropower and coal are the major source of commercial energy in the country. The biomass energy resource, which comprises fuel-wood and charcoal from both natural forest and plantations, accounts for 93 per cent of total energy consumption.
Tanzania has a great potential particularly for gold, base metals, diamonds, ferrous minerals and a wide variety of gemstones, some of, which are unique such as tanzanite.
Poverty
The overall literacy rate in Tanzania is 66 %. 40% of the rural agriculture population has never attended school.
61% of Tanzanian people read and write Swahili, 5% read and write Swahili and English while 34% don’t read or write anything.
Average household size is 5.2 persons per household. Only 8% percent of the households do not have toilets. The most important source of energy used for lighting is a wick lamp (70%) followed by hurricane lamp (22%). The most important source of energy for cooking is firewood (96% of households).
The distance to the main source of drinking water is less than 1 km for most households and there is little difference between seasons.
Most rural agriculture households in Tanzania take 2 meals per day. Very few households take more than 3 meals per day or one meal per day. Most households in Tanzania do not face problems in satisfying the food requirements for the households, however 24 % at least sometimes face food shortage and 7 % always face problems.
HIV infection is unevenly distributed across geographic area, gender, age, groups and social economic classes in the country. The percentage of the population infected by HIV ranges from less than three percent across most of the country to more than 44.4 percent in certain sub populations. The epidemic has struck more the most economically active group of adults, those aged 15-45.
Educational system in Tanzania
General information
Almost all the children in Tanzania attend school today. Primary school is compulsory. Government is trying its best to make it possible for all. They are facing challenges with some tribes which consider domestic teaching more important, and with pastorals that move from place to place, and with households who depend on everyone’s input in the family income.
Children start school when they are seven years old. In rural areas some start at later age. Lots of children attend Nazareth School from the age of 3. There are plenty of them organised by the private and public sector.
Children go to primary school for seven years (standard 1-7). After four years they have exams which they need to pass in order to proceed further. For those who fail they repeat or remain at the same class until they pass to continue to standard five.
Teaching in the primary schools is done in Swahili, all though English language is taught already from the third grade. Many children have hard time at the beginning since their mother tongue is usually some tribal language. Swahili is still country’s official language and it is the most used language in the country.
There are no school fees for primary schools, although there are some expenses such as school uniforms, school equipment, and other contributions towards development of school and health care. These contributions are done by parents.
After the primary school children go to the secondary school. First four years are called ordinary level (form 1-4). After four years of students have national exams. Those who qualify proceed to advanced level (A-level 1-2). Many who fail opt to colleges for certificate courses on different professions. Some quit school, and do other things like go to domestic farming or own businesses. Some apply for teacher certificate training.
After two years of advanced level studies students take national exams again. The best students qualify to universities. The second best qualify to different diploma courses, e.g. teacher diploma training.
There are small school fees for secondary school; therefore many children can’t continue studies after the primary school. School fees are 20 000 Tsh (approximately 12 euros) per year for day students and 140 000 Tsh (app. 100 euros) for boarding.
Teaching in secondary schools should be done in English but it distinguishes. Only about 30 percent of children continue to secondary school.
School day
School day starts approximately at 7:30 am and continues until 2.30 pm. There is a lunch break where students can eat their bagged lunches or go home to eat. Food isn’t included in school fees in primary and day secondary schools.
There aren’t enough schools for the number of children in Tanzania; therefore teaching is done in shifts in many schools. First shift starts at 6:30 am and continues till 1 pm. Second shift starts at 12:30 pm and continues till 6 pm. Some local changes apply.
Teacher training
Teacher training is divided in two levels: Diploma and Certificate levels. Those who graduate from the diploma level continue to secondary school to teach, and those who graduate from the certificate level start teaching in primary schools.
Both levels of education last for two years, although the second year is done in practise. During the second year teachers are supposed to supervise students who are on the field but in most cases they are on their own.
Each year all students in both levels have one month long block teaching practise in January to February. Also then teachers are supposed to supervise them.
Teaching in certificate level is done in Swahili since students after graduating will teach in primary schools where language is Swahili. Teaching in diploma level is done in English since students will teach in secondary schools where the language is English.
Posting of the teachers
While applying to college students can put down three choices. Since president Nyerere’s time 1970-80’s (socialism) all students and qualified teachers have been spread out around the country. The idea behind mixing all tribes and cultures is to have one unite country. Everyone should feel home where ever they are no matter where they are coming from.
Private and public sector
There are private schools in all levels of education through out the country. The competition between two sectors is high. Private sector is competing by paying better salary while public sector is promising longer contracts for teachers. The difference between public and private sector is comparable to the number of qualified teachers.
School term
In college and A-level secondary schools first term starts in the middle or at the end of July and continues until the middle of December. Second term starts in the middle of January and continues till the end of May or till the beginning of June.
In primary schools and ordinary level secondary schools first school term stars in mid January continuing until end of May or beginning of June. Second term starts from July continuing to December.
Colleges and A-level secondary schools have a right to decide their yearly schedule but one school year consist a minimum of 194 days. Primary schools and ordinary-level secondary schools the school year is planned by the Ministry of Education through the regional education offices.
In colleges there are one month long block teaching practise which is always in January and February. In previous years national exams for second year students were done in May but nowadays according to the changes made by the Ministry of Education the national exams for second year students are done in the end of January and February. There are a big number of public holidays in Tanzania which seems to interrupt studies quite often.
School management
There is a principal and vice-principal in each college. Principals are quite old so there will be lot of changes in near future.
In secondary schools there are headmasters and headmistresses with deputies.
There are 33 teachers colleges in Tanzania. There are only eight female principals in the college level.
Teachers who are teaching at the colleges are called tutors.
There are plenty of secondary schools all over the country, although the number of teachers to teach on those secondary schools challenges the Tanzanian government. The number of the teachers is not enough for the need of secondary schools in Tanzania.
The further urban you go, less women tutors there are. At the moment 75 % of the tutors in all the teachers colleges are men. Women like to stay closer to towns and cities. Those who have families are prioritised.
This also has an affect for secondary and primary schools. Only difference is that the percentage of female teachers in primary and secondary school levels is over fifty in comparison to college level where the majority of tutors is males.
Volunteers
Some of the teacher colleges have volunteers, mainly in ICT department. Most of the volunteers come from United Kingdom.
There are also volunteers in Primary and Secondary levels.
Number of tutors and students
In the Teachers Colleges the number of tutors is approximately 30 and the number of students is 600. The size of a class varies between 20 and 100 depending on several things like the size of the classroom, teaching subject or the capacity of school.
Approximately 30% of the tutors are females and 70% males.
Approximately 46% of the students are female and 54% males.
In diploma level the numbers are 40% females and 60% males.
In certificate level the numbers are 51% females and 49% males.
The number of the male students attending secondary schools is bigger than the number of the female students, although the government is trying its best to increase the number by giving priority for female students to join secondary schools. This difference has also an impact on the high level education.
Facilities
Most of the college compounds are so big that there is a possibility for expansion if needed. Only few of the colleges are built on such uneven ground where the expanding would be hard or impossible.
Most of the compounds are well-maintained. Usually all are maintained by the students.
School fees
School fee for teachers training is 150 000 Tsh, approximately 100 euros set by the Ministry of Education. It includes the education and accommodation full board. Some colleges provide mattresses for students. In most cases students bring their own mattresses and mosquito nets.
There are some problems collecting the fees. Only about half of the students are able to pay the fee in time. Some payments are delayed or not paid at all. In these cases college are applying the money from students’ district councils but it takes time and is rarely successful. Everyone is allowed to continue studies independent from the problems of payments; however students don’t get the diplomas until the payments are done.
Above the school fee students contribute money for several activities set by each college. These include e.g. block teaching practise (30 000 Tsh), national exams (5 000 Tsh), health care (10 000 Tsh), maintenance (10 000 Tsh), student government (5 000 Tsh), sports (5 000 Tsh), caution money (5 000 Tsh). Starting from autumn 2008 all colleges will have 10 000 Tsh contribution for the use of ICT.
School uniforms
All students in primary and secondary level were school uniforms, except the high-level institutions.
Starting from fall 2008 students will wear school uniforms in teachers colleges.
The finances
All teachers colleges are depending on government support. Student fee (150 000 Tsh) goes almost totally for food. Colleges make development plans for expansion and renovation of existing facilities and apply funds from the government. Even though the funds are allocated they rarely seem to be sufficient for the activities planned.
Colleges have no other sponsors. Students make contributions towards different projects. Some locals also assist in special projects.
Most of the colleges have projects for extra income. These include mostly gardening and farming. Some colleges also have a shop which brings some profits. Some colleges get extra income for renting out its premises.
All together the economy of colleges is tight and rarely well-planned. It seems like money is spent as soon as it has been received. Planning seems to be poor.
Teacher salaries
Starting salary for a primary school teacher is 105 000 Tsh (65 euros) per month. Starting secondary school teacher’s salary is 165 000 Tsh (100 e) per month. College tutors salary is approximately 340 000 Tsh (220 e). The principal’s salary can rise up to 500 000 Tsh (330 e). All salaries are paid according to the qualification. The salaries range from 105 000 to 1 000 000 (65-650 e).
Accommodation
All colleges are boarding schools, although some have day-students due the lack of space. Those colleges which are located in town allow their students to stay at home instead of at campus, e.g. Klerruu, Iringa.
Women and men have separate dormitories. There are strict regulations for visiting dormitories of opposite sex.
All dormitories are equipped with bunk-beds. Dormitories accommodate 20-80 people in one room. They are sometimes divided in smaller parts by a curtain or removable piece of wall. You can rarely find double rooms.
There are no storages or common spaces. Students store they personal belongings under their beds or in a corner somewhere. Personal items include usually plate, spoon, cup, soap, toilet paper roll and two sets of clothing.
Dining
Food is served only in boarding schools. The morning tea is usually served between 10 and 10:30. Lunch is around 1 pm and dinner when it gets dark, approximately 7 pm.
Main dishes are rice, ugali (Tanzanian maize dish) and beans. Meat is served usually once or twice a week.
Depending on the size of the dining hall students eat inside or outside on the ground. Everyone provides their own plate, cup and spoon.
Toilets and showers
Most colleges have outside toilets and showers. Only one college (Monduli) was self-contained.
Toilets are always standing-toilets. Depending on the location some colleges have so called dry toilets.
Almost all toilets are depending on bucket and a scoop flushing system.
Toilets and showers are clean, although don’t reach the western standards.
Laundry is done in showers. Clothes dry outside on the ground or on some plants. Everyone takes care of his or her own laundry.
Teachers’ accommodation
Due to lack of space or houses some colleges can’t accommodate all its tutors.
In most cases staff houses are surrounding college compound to bring some security for the campus.
Tutors with families have their own houses. Bachelors are accommodated together with own private rooms, although women and men separately.
Staff houses include in most cases own little gardens or farms which they take care of themselves and get some extra income.
Problems
Problems with electricity and water are common to almost all colleges. It does not differ from the nationwide situation. In colleges own standard they don’t usually have problems even though there are electric power cuts during the day.
Same goes with water. If there is a water supply somewhere in walking distance there isn’t any water problem.
In most cases neither water nor electricity does reach the western standards.
ICT
During last two years all colleges have received new computers (Solar Sun System) sponsored by the Swedish government. The goal was to have one computer for each 10 students. It hasn’t been reached everywhere.
Colleges with electricity problem have solar power for ICT.
Libraries
Almost all the colleges have a library. The government has provided some books, some are donations from around the world, and few are bought by the college. Libraries have very few new books. Most of the books are second-hand books.
There are books in Swahili and in English language. There is a big need of informational books in Swahili language. The books in English language are outdated with the exception of some preference books. Some novels can also be found.
Only few of the colleges have a librarian who takes care of the maintenance and loaning books.
Sports
Sports and games were taken off the schools in 1998 after Nyerere’s time. New president didn’t see the importance of sports and while time passed sports was left out from all levels. Sports were removed from curriculum in teachers colleges. Only Butimba Teachers College continued teaching sports.
Sports vary a lot among colleges. Some has sports as part of their timetable but in most cases it is an after school activity. The attendance depends on each students own interest.
Certificate studies include vocational training (stadi za kazi). It includes e.g. domestic science, drama, fine arts and sports and games. Each subject has about one period per week, although the interest of each teacher matters the most.
Sports are taught by 1-5 teachers. Number of qualified sports teachers varies between 0 and 4 per college. Sports is usually organised by those teachers who are interested in sports or student sport captains.
Colleges have usually one playground for each sport. The number of students is so big that all fields are over their capacity. Another problem is that all sports are organised at the same time for everyone without any rotation or scheduling.
The sports are hardly taught in any college. Sport classes usually concentrate on playing. Since the number of attendees is so big most people sit aside while only a few get to play. There is some rotation but in most cases the strongest and loudest get to attend.
There aren’t very many teaching methods in use. One challenge is the lack of equipment. The biggest problem is the level of teaching.
Students get to choose which sport they want to attend. Football is by far the most played sport in schools. Only few girls attend football and only few boys attend netball. Netball is by far the most played sport among girls.
Colleges arrange friendly matches among dormitories and classes. Most collages arrange matches against other local teams too. Football is the most organised sports concerning friendly matches.
Sports grounds and equipment
Sports include five different sports: football, netball, basketball, volleyball and in some cases handball. Athletics tracks are out of use and in poor condition but the track exists in some colleges. All sports mentioned are all so called outside sports.
Playgrounds are mainly sand or a mixture of sand and soil. Some grounds have grass, or hay growing. Also lot of weeds exists due the lack of maintenance.
Basketball courts are mainly covered with sand or some mixture. Few places have a concrete ground, although in poor shape.
There are gymnastic poles found in many schools but they are mainly used for drying of clothes.
Indoor sports are very rare. They include playing cards, some board games and some traditional games. Few colleges have table-tennis and/or pool-table. Other sports are unfamiliar. Indoor sports don’t include any physically active sports.
Equipment includes usually few balls (one for each ballgame), volleyball net and some jerseys. Equipments are without an exception in poor shape but highly appreciated by the users.
Many collages have problems with thieves. If the goals aren’t attached firmly they can be cut and stolen. Some colleges are using removable goals and students have to carry those even long distances to the playgrounds.
First aid and health care
Most colleges have their own dispensary with qualified nurse. Some have even a doctor.
Medicine supply is limited. Dispensaries seem to be more like resting places than meant for treatments. Malaria is the most common sickness.
Nearest hospitals are usually in the nearest village or town. In some cases the distance to the nearest hospital is more than 30 km.