In December 2023, the Tanzanian government announced that only 5,606 out of 1,092,984 students who were accepted to government secondary schools in 2024 would be attending boarding schools. This represents just 0.5% of all students accepted.
The announcement was met with mixed reactions. Some people welcomed the decision, saying that it would help to reduce the cost of education for parents and to ensure that students had access to quality education. Others criticized the decision, saying that it would deprive students of the opportunity to experience life outside of their homes and communities.
There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the government’s decision. One factor is the cost of boarding school education. Boarding schools typically charge higher tuition fees than day schools, and this can be a financial burden for many families. Another factor is the availability of space in boarding schools. There are not enough boarding schools in Tanzania to accommodate all of the students who would like to attend.
The government has said that it is committed to providing quality education for all Tanzanian children, regardless of their socioeconomic background. However, the decision to limit the number of students attending boarding schools is likely to have a significant impact on the education of many students.
WALIOCHANGULIWA KIDATO CHA KWANZA – 2024
| ARUSHA | DAR ES SALAAM | DODOMA |
| IRINGA | KAGERA | KIGOMA |
| KILIMANJARO | LINDI | MARA |
| MBEYA | MOROGORO | MTWARA |
| MWANZA | PWANI | RUKWA |
| RUVUMA | SHINYANGA | SINGIDA |
| TABORA | TANGA | MANYARA |
| GEITA | KATAVI | NJOMBE |
| SIMIYU | SONGWE |
Potential Impact of the Decision
The decision to limit the number of students attending boarding schools could have a number of potential impacts, including:
- Increased costs for parents: Parents of students who are not accepted to boarding schools will have to pay for transportation, food, and other expenses associated with attending a day school.
- Reduced access to quality education: Day schools in Tanzania are often overcrowded and underfunded, which can make it difficult for students to receive a quality education.
- Increased social inequality: Students who attend boarding schools are more likely to come from families with higher socioeconomic status. This could lead to increased social inequality in Tanzania.
The government has said that it is working to address the challenges associated with boarding schools, such as the cost and availability of space. However, it is unclear whether these efforts will be successful in increasing the number of students who are able to attend boarding schools.
