Schools and Education
In Tanzania, primary school education is free and compulsory through Standard Seven (grade six). Secondary school is also free through Form Four (grade ten) but requires passing a rigorous national examination at the end of Standard Seven. Once in secondary school, students are required to pass two further national examinations at the end of Form Two and Form Four to continue their studies. After Form Four they must pay for their education.
Dumbeta Ward has five primary schools and one secondary school. All face many challenges, including lack of water and electricity, overcrowded classrooms, crumbling infrastructure, insufficient books and learning materials, student hunger and malnutrition, unsanitary toilets, limited teacher education, lack of teacher housing, student absenteeism, and cultural barriers to education. Prior to the Rafiki Village Project’s partnership with the community, the Ward’s schools had dirt floors, windows with broken or absent panes, leaky roofs and unsanitary toilets. Students were distracted by hunger. Teachers were challenged by classrooms packed with too many students, a scarcity of books and materials, and poor roads that make it difficult to get to work. The Rafiki Village Project is working with the community to address each of these interrelated problems.
Despite the challenges, Dumbeta’s schools are finding ways to educate the next generation. This is due in large part to the incredible passion, dedication and hard work of the Ward's many fine teachers. They understand the essential role education will play in improving the lives of their students and in ensuring a better future for Tanzania.
Dumbeta Ward has five primary schools and one secondary school. All face many challenges, including lack of water and electricity, overcrowded classrooms, crumbling infrastructure, insufficient books and learning materials, student hunger and malnutrition, unsanitary toilets, limited teacher education, lack of teacher housing, student absenteeism, and cultural barriers to education. Prior to the Rafiki Village Project’s partnership with the community, the Ward’s schools had dirt floors, windows with broken or absent panes, leaky roofs and unsanitary toilets. Students were distracted by hunger. Teachers were challenged by classrooms packed with too many students, a scarcity of books and materials, and poor roads that make it difficult to get to work. The Rafiki Village Project is working with the community to address each of these interrelated problems.
Despite the challenges, Dumbeta’s schools are finding ways to educate the next generation. This is due in large part to the incredible passion, dedication and hard work of the Ward's many fine teachers. They understand the essential role education will play in improving the lives of their students and in ensuring a better future for Tanzania.