Dodoma. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has requested Parliament to approve a total of Sh2.439 trillion for the implementation of its objectives for the 2025/26 financial year.
Tabling the ministry’s budget estimates in Parliament on May 12, 2025, the minister for Education, Prof Adolf Mkenda, said the requested amount comprises Sh688.6 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh1.750 trillion for development projects.
Out of the recurrent expenditure, Sh635.2 billion has been earmarked for salaries while Sh53.3 billion is set aside for other operational costs.
“Sh1.186 trillion of the development budget will be sourced from domestic revenues, with the remaining Sh560.8 billion expected from development partners,” Prof Mkenda noted.
He noted that through the Tanzania National Commission for Unesco, the ministry is also seeking Sh3.2 billion for recurrent expenses, of which Sh1.5 billion will go to salaries and Sh1.7 billion for other administrative needs.
Outlining the ministry’s priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, Prof Mkenda said the focus will be on continuing the implementation of education and training policies, reviewing legislation, developing guidelines, and providing professional training.
“Other priorities include expanding and improving the quality of technical and vocational education in secondary schools and training institutes; enhancing access and quality in early childhood, primary, secondary and teacher education; and strengthening higher education and the national capacity in research, science, technology and innovation,” he noted.
Education Act review underway
The government plans to complete the review of the Education Act, Chapter 353, to align it with the 2014 Education and Training Policy, revised in 2023. This move aims to modernise the education system in line with the country’s development needs and the dynamics of the labour market.
“This review is crucial to address the economic, social, and technological changes as well as to ensure the effective implementation of the updated Education and Training Policy,” Prof Mkenda told the House.
Progress in 2024/25: Higher student loan allocations
In the current 2024/25 financial year, the government increased the budget for higher education student loans to Sh787.4 billion, up from Sh570 billion in 2021/22. This reflects a rise of over Sh217.4 billion over three years.
As a result, the number of beneficiaries surged by 39.6 percent—from 177,925 in 2021/22 to 248,331 students in 2024/25.
The expansion illustrates the government’s commitment to inclusive access to higher education, regardless of financial background, and its broader agenda of developing a knowledge-based industrial economy.
Vocational secondary schools construction continues
Prof Mkenda said the ministry of Education has also sustained its momentum in constructing vocational secondary schools across the country to promote skill-based education.
“A total of 103 new schools are under construction in the 2024/25 fiscal year, designed to offer practical training and job-oriented skills to secondary-level learners, he noted.
Of these, 29 are engineering-focused institutions targeting technical and technological competencies, while the remaining 74 offer non-engineering vocational training in areas such as agriculture, business, tailoring, ICT and social services.
This initiative is part of the government’s long-term strategy to develop a skilled, innovative and competitive workforce, capable of meeting the demands of both domestic and international labour markets.
