Tanzania advises Africa on curriculum reform

TANZANIA has called on African countries to strengthen cooperation in integrating technology and innovation into education to ensure curricula keep pace with scientific advances, changing labour-market demands and the needs of future generations.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Prof Riziki Shemdoe told participants in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday while opening the sixth African Curriculum Association Conference.

The conference brought together policymakers, curriculum experts, lecturers, researchers, teachers, educational institutions, development partners and other stakeholders from 22 African countries.

Prof Shemdoe said curriculum transformation was essential in equipping learners with skills to solve problems, innovate, collaborate and use technology effectively.

“Although each country has its own context and priorities, many of the challenges we face are shared,” he said, calling for curricula that respond to technological changes and teachers capable of applying innovative teaching approaches.

He said assessment systems should measure competence rather than merely test the ability to reproduce information, while policies should promote innovation, inclusion and the safe use of technology.

Prof Shemdoe said Tanzania’s curriculum reforms were being implemented in line with the National Development Vision 2050, the African Union Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goal Four, which calls for inclusive, equitable and quality education for all.

“Education transformation cannot be achieved without curriculum reform and curriculum reform cannot succeed without a well-prepared workforce, appropriate technology, inclusion of all learners and strong collaboration,” he said.

He said the government was continuing to develop and review curricula, teaching and learning materials, teacher guides and other educational resources, while strengthening monitoring mechanisms.

Deputy Principal Secretary in Zanzibar’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Ms Mwanakhamis Adam Ameir, said Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania were strengthening cooperation in education reforms, particularly curriculum development.

She said the cooperation involved institutions including the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) and Zanzibar Institute of Education and aimed to equip learners with relevant knowledge and skills.

TIE Director General Dr Aneth Komba said the conference would focus on developing African curricula reflecting the continent’s realities, history, values and aspirations.

She said African countries had an opportunity to move away from curricula inherited from colonial systems and develop education programmes that nurture confident and patriotic citizens.

Dr Komba said expected outcomes included the Dar es Salaam Declaration on African curricula, a guide for curriculum developers and recommendations to strengthen curriculum development and implementation.

UNICEF Representative in Tanzania Ms Elke Wisch said artificial intelligence and other technologies should make education more inclusive and effective rather than replace teachers.

She said UNICEF was working with TIE to convert national textbooks into accessible digital versions, with AI helping to accelerate the process while human expertise remained essential in developing and validating the materials.Top of Form.

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