University Education In Tanzania: Student Population Insights

Tanzania is home to 43 universities, three of which are included in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In the academic year 2019/2020, there were 220,238 students enrolled in universities in Tanzania, two-thirds of whom were enrolled in public institutions. This was the highest number of enrolled students in tertiary education since the 2017/2018 academic year. The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) collects and analyses data on the higher education sector, including admissions statistics, enrolment data, and the number of graduates and dropouts. According to Statista, in the academic year 2020/2021, Tanzania had more than 206,000 university students, with nearly 57% of them being male.

University enrolment statistics in Tanzania

Overview

Tanzania has 43 universities, three of which are included in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) collects and analyses data on the higher education sector, including enrolment statistics.

Enrolment Statistics

In the academic year 2020/2021, Tanzania had more than 206,000 university students, with almost 57% of these students being male. The number of university graduates in Tanzania has fluctuated in recent years, with 51,200 graduating in 2019, 48,600 in 2020, and 48,621 in 2022, according to IPP Media.

Fields of Study

The most popular field of study for university students in Tanzania in the academic year 2020/2021 was Education, with over 51,000 students enrolled. This was followed by Business (38,500 students) and Medicine and Health Sciences (24,600 students).

Challenges and Initiatives

Tanzania faces challenges in its education sector, including limited financial resources, a lack of sanitary facilities in schools, and a lack of qualified personnel. However, initiatives such as the BOOST Primary Student Learning Program and the Jifunze Uelewe project aim to enhance literacy and numerical skills for children, and improve learning experiences and gender parity in education.

Top universities in Tanzania

In the 2019/2020 academic year, there were 220,238 students enrolled in universities in Tanzania, with two-thirds attending public institutions and one-third enrolled in private universities. The most popular field of study is Education, with over 51,000 students enrolled in courses for the 2020/2021 academic year. This is followed by Business (38,500 students) and Medicine and Health Sciences (24,600 students).

Tanzania is home to many highly-ranked universities. The University of Dar es Salaam is listed in the largest number of rankings and is ranked best in Tanzania for Education, Social Studies & Humanities, and Natural Sciences. The Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences is the highest-ranked university in Tanzania and is placed at number 28 in the Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings.

Other top universities in Tanzania include:

• Sokoine University of Agriculture
• University of Dodoma
• Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
• Mzumbe University
• St. Augustine University of Tanzania
• Tumaini University Makumira
• Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences
• State University of Zanzibar
• Hubert Kairuki Memorial University
• St John's University of Tanzania
• Moshi Co-operative University
• St. Joseph University in Tanzania
• Zanzibar University
• Ruaha Catholic University
• Mbeya University of Science and Technology
• Mwenge Catholic University
• University of Iringa
• Teofilo Kisanji University
• Muslim University of Morogoro
• Mount Meru University
• University of Arusha
• International Medical and Technological University
• Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Memorial University
• Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University
• United African University of Tanzania
• Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology
• University of Bagamoyo
• Eckernforde Tanga University

University dropout rates in Tanzania

In recent years, Tanzania has seen an improvement in school attendance, with an increase in enrollment and literacy rates, and reduced barriers to children's access to schools. However, dropout rates remain a critical concern, especially in Standard Four and Form Two, which coincide with national assessment exams. Official data from 2022 revealed that 56,361 Standard Four students and 53,932 Form Two students dropped out of school, with boys accounting for the largest share of dropouts at 55.2%.

The total number of students enrolled in universities in Tanzania during the academic year 2019/2020 was 220,238, with two-thirds enrolled in public institutions. However, it is unclear what percentage of these students dropped out. The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) collects and analyses data on the higher education sector, including admissions statistics, enrolment data, graduates, and reports on university dropouts. This information is made available to the public through various publications and the TCU website.

Several factors contribute to the high dropout rates in Tanzania. One significant factor is the impact of assessment exams and the punitive measures associated with failing and repeating classes. The pressure exerted by these exams can lead to anxiety and disengagement among students, pushing them to abandon their education. Additionally, there are socioeconomic disparities and a lack of extracurricular opportunities for students, which can also influence the decision to drop out of school.

To address the escalating dropout crisis, the Tanzanian government, led by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, has formed a team of researchers to investigate the root causes. While this is a positive step, experts emphasize the need for a more nuanced understanding of the obstacles faced by students and a reevaluation of the purpose and structure of national assessments. A shift from an exam-centric approach to a more competency-based education system is proposed as a potential solution to reduce dropout rates and improve the quality of education in Tanzania.

Female education in Tanzania

One of the main obstacles to girls' education in Tanzania is the distance to and from school. On average, a child has to walk anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours each way to attend school. This issue is compounded by the lack of schools in rural areas, which limits access to secondary school. The high cost of transportation and other educational expenses and supplies also pose significant financial barriers for families, who often have to choose just one child to educate fully.

Child marriage is another major barrier to girls' education in Tanzania. Around 40% of girls are married before they turn 18, leading to early pregnancies and school dropouts. It is considered taboo for girls to return to school after becoming pregnant or having a child, further reinforcing the gender gap in education. The World Bank estimates that 6,500 pregnant students stop attending school in Tanzania annually, while NGOs put the figure closer to 8,000.

In 2015, the Tanzanian government took a significant step towards improving girls' education by abolishing school fees and additional costs. However, financial barriers to education persist, and policy changes alone may not be enough to address the issue. It is crucial to change the patriarchal mindset that undermines girls' right to education and contributes to systemic harmful practices.

Despite global, regional, and country-level interventions to promote girls' education, Tanzania still has low attendance rates, high dropout rates, and poor performance by girls in schools. While some Tanzanian policies and laws promote girls' right to education, other policies, laws, and practices contradict and confuse, ultimately disempowering girls. To effectively protect girls' right to education, there is a need to amend and harmonise contradictory policies and laws.

Tanzania's education system

Primary school is taught in the native language of Kiswahili, while secondary school is taught in English. Public primary schools are taught in Kiswahili, and private primary schools can be taught in either English or Kiswahili. Secondary school is always taught in English.

Primary school is supposed to be free, but the costs of school uniforms, school supplies, and other expenses can be unaffordable for many families. This is one of the reasons why many children do not attend primary school, along with long distances to school, responsibilities at home, and poor health.

National exams are required to move forward, with a passing score on the Standard 7 exams determining where the student will be placed in secondary school. Students with the best scores and funding may go to boarding schools, while those with lower passing scores may attend local day secondary schools.

Secondary school is divided into Ordinary Level (Form 1-4) and Advanced Level (Form 5-6). Students who pass Form Four exams may move on to Advanced Secondary School, which are mostly boarding schools and more expensive. Passing Form Six exams allows students to continue to university, which lasts for three years. The government will assign the university for the student and may loan upwards of 75% of the tuition for those with the highest exam scores.

In the academic year 2019/2020, there were 220,238 students in universities in Tanzania, two-thirds of which were enrolled in public institutions. The most popular field of study is Education, followed by Business, and then Medicine and Health Sciences.

Frequently asked questions