Tanzania: Free education plan costs 18.8 billion each month

Dodoma — As it continues implementing the free education programme in public primary and secondary schools, the government disburses 18.8bn/- each month to fund the plan, the National Assembly heard yesterday.

Deputy Minister in the President’s Office Regional (Administration and Local Governments), Suleiman Jaffo, made the explanation when answering a basic question by Special Seats MP, Tunza Issa Malapo (Chadema).

In her question, Malapo had wanted to know how the government was implementing the free-education by footing costs at the schools such as electricity and water bills, meals for students in boarding schools as well as other teaching materials.

The MP had expressed worries that implementation of the plan could spark disputes between heads of schools, teachers, parents and students as far as footing the costs is concerned.

In his response, Jaffo said the plan had started smoothly in many parts of the country and that guidelines were issued to regional authorities on implementation of the programme.

«The government is well prepared to ensure that there are no disputes between respective players in execution of the plan,» Jaffo explained, noting, however, that implementation of the plan has faced a number of challenges.

The Deputy Minister explained as well that the free-education programme does not prohibit parents and other stakeholders to contribute to improve the education sector, provided the contributions are made at will.

In another development, the government has pledged to improve facilities at teachers’ resource centres across the country in a bid to improve efficiency in the education sector.