Tanzania appreciates teachers’ role with 40,527 in active service
The Tanzanian government has reiterated its recognition of teachers’ critical role in national development, emphasizing their contribution in producing professionals across key sectors including health, energy, science, and technology.
Speaking on June 8, 2025, at the opening of the Seventh General Meeting of the Tanzania Teachers Union (CWT) in Dodoma, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, commended the efforts of teachers. Representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Dr. Biteko described teachers as not just educators but also moral guides, thought leaders, and key builders of the nation’s future.
He highlighted various government achievements in the education sector, including the construction of 62,685 classrooms, 1,031 new secondary schools, 1,580 new primary schools, and 1,792 teachers’ houses. He also disclosed that between 2020/21 and 2024/25, the government settled salary arrears for 101,596 teachers, paid non-salary debts of 156,556 civil servants, and announced an increase in the minimum wage for public servants from 370,000 to 500,000 Tanzanian shillings effective July 2025.
Dr. Biteko revealed that the government has employed 40,527 teachers nationwide since 2021 in efforts to address workforce shortages in the education sector. He also praised the impact of the ‘Samia Teachers Mobile Clinic’ initiative, which reached 48,380 teachers and resolved various challenges faced by them.
Regarding the call from teachers for a single employer to handle all teacher-related matters, Dr. Biteko confirmed that the government has received the proposal and is evaluating the current system to determine if a new centralized body is needed for better oversight and service delivery.
He also spoke on the revised school curriculum, stating its aim is to produce more self-reliant students. The government, he added, is committed to ensuring that all teachers receive appropriate training to adapt to the changes.
In light of the ongoing CWT leadership elections, Dr. Biteko urged delegates to choose leaders wisely, stressing the importance of justice, unity, and respect during and after the election process. He encouraged union members to remain united and avoid internal divisions that could hamper progress.
The Deputy Prime Minister concluded by calling for enhanced collaboration between the government and teachers, especially in ICT-related initiatives and other development programs that span across all regions.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
