By Farida Ramadhan, Dodoma
The Minister of Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, recently engaged in high-level discussions with a delegation from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, led by Minister Professor Adolf Mkenda.
The meeting took place at the Ministry of Finance offices at Treasury Square in Dodoma, focusing on reviewing the achievements and challenges facing the country’s education sector and charting strategies to strengthen it further.
The discussions come at a time when Tanzania is intensifying efforts to transform its education sector into a driver of socio-economic development, in line with national priorities under the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and the ongoing reforms in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both ministries, including the Deputy Minister of Finance, Engineer Mshamu Ali Munde, MP; the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, MP; Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Carolyne Nombo; Deputy Secretary General, Prof. Daniel Mushi; and the Commissioner for External Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Rished Bade. Other top-level officials from both ministries were also present.
During the meeting, participants assessed the progress made in various areas, including access to quality education, curriculum reform, teacher training, digital learning, and infrastructure development. They also examined persistent challenges, such as resource allocation, teacher shortages in rural areas, and gaps in technical and vocational education.
Ambassador Omar emphasised the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration to ensure that financial resources are effectively channelled to priority areas that will have the greatest impact on learning outcomes.
He noted that sustainable investment in education is critical not only for human capital development but also for supporting Tanzania’s broader economic growth and industrialisation agenda.
Minister Professor Mkenda highlighted recent achievements in improving enrolment rates, advancing STEM programmes, and integrating technology into classrooms. He stressed the need for innovative financing mechanisms, strengthened monitoring systems, and partnerships with the private sector and development partners to accelerate the sector’s transformation.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to develop a coordinated action plan that aligns financial planning with strategic priorities in education, ensuring that interventions are targeted, impactful, and sustainable.
This dialogue between the Ministries of Finance and Education reflects Tanzania’s growing recognition that education is a cornerstone for achieving national development objectives. Analysts say such high-level engagements are crucial for bridging policy, funding, and implementation gaps that have historically hampered the sector’s performance.
As Tanzania continues to expand investment in education, including digital learning platforms, technical training institutes, and teacher professional development, stakeholders believe that these efforts will significantly contribute to the country’s long-term human capital development and competitiveness in the East African region. If you want, I can also create a shorter, punchy version tailored for newspapers that focuses on the “impact on students and the education sector” while keeping the British English style.
