Education and skills development

Overall Objective: to provide relevant and quality education at primary and secondary levels as well as adult education targeting the poorest groups.

Specific Objective

Specific Action

to raise primary school enrolment and attendance ratios

	improve the teaching and learning environment
	promote public/private partnership programmes for primary and secondary schools
	sensitise communities, parents and teachers to the need to enrol children with special needs and those with disabilities

to improve the quality of education in rural and urban areas

	strengthen the school inspectorate department
	upgrade teachers' competence and productivity
	strengthen the guidance and counselling services
	include special needs education in the teacher training curriculum

to develop a curriculum which meets the needs of school pupils and school leavers

	improve the curriculum through research into what children really need to know
	establish vocational training centres
	expand and promote adult education and literacy programmes for out of school youths (these should integrate with other community based development initiatives)

The main thrusts of the education strategy will include

improving school buildings and equipment

improving teacher training and supervision

defining a policy for higher education

integrating education with the world of work by

	increasing adult literacy
	increasing the relevance of curricula
	promoting more vocational education opportunities

Specific targets:

	raise primary school enrolment from 94 to 99% by 2005 and 100% by 2010
	raise transition rate from primary to secondary from 14 to 28% by 2005 and 50% by 2010

Any child can grow up to be a responsible citizen if properly educated. (Benjamin Mkapa)

Education is the key to success but we all have to play our part. (ZPRP-PTF)

What happens to a child till s/he is five decides what kind of person s/he will become. (ZPRP-PTF)

What changes are needed in the education system so as to build more self reliance?

Given the shortage of funds it is important to find new ways of delivering quality education. Public/private partnerships for education financing (there are several forms) will be encouraged. This could include co-operation with Koranic schools so as to ensure that there is complementary basic education.

	African Development Bank (ADB) and Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) projects cover some of the important areas in primary and secondary education
	The Adult Learning and Skills Development Project is funded by the ADB and covers people who are out of school
	There is need for a programme to increase peoples’ ability to manage education projects
	Further support is needed for teaching materials, curriculum development, teacher training, counselling services, school inspectorate, adult literacy programmes and vocational training in the public and private sectors
	High priority should be given to micro-projects and Community-based organisation (CBO) supported initiatives that are education-oriented

The ZPRP funding gap for Education is about $4 million. In order to achieve the Targets for education the share of the total government budget to education will have to be raised to at least 20%

The external support situation:

	Education gets some external support from the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
	There is need for work on improved facilities for both primary and secondary schools
	The education sector needs assistance with skills development and various gender-related issues