EDUCATION POLICY CHANGES IN TANZANIA (1962 – 1967)
After independence, there were several changes in the education policy. The aim of these changes was to make education the engine of economic development. The changes included the following;
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The government made education a right to all Tanzanians irrespectively of one‟s race or level of income. Colonial education had discriminated the Africans in the provision of education whereby preference was given to Europeans and Asians.
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There was an increase of primary and secondary school enrollment following the government‟s campaign and emphasis on education. Enrollment in colonial education was restricted, the colonialists simply wanted a few Africans who would assist the colonial administrators.
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There were changes regarding the content of colonial education. There was introduction of various disciplines and not only the agricultural sector. This was a crucial step in producing educated people with different skills; this move was taken to support development in the country.
d)The government established the university college of Dar es salaam as the state university. The establishment of the university was to acquire highly educated Tanzanians who will play a leading role in developing the country.
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THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION FOR SELF RELIANCE
The following were noted by Nyerere in the education system by 1967 (weakness in colonial education)
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Formal education is basically elitist in nature catering to the needs and interest of a small population who manage to enter formal schooling. In practice the thought of education is training for skills so as to earn high salaries in the modern sector of our economy.
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The education system divorces its participants from the society for which they are supposed to be trained.
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The system does not involve its students in productive work such a situation deprives society of their much needed contribution to the increase in national economic output and also breeds among the students contempt for manual work.
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In summary, education for self reliance proposed the following changes in the education system in Tanzania. (Views of education for self reliance)
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It should be oriented to rural life. The education system should not divorce people from their society they live in. it should be relevant to the society.
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Teachers and students should all engage in productive activities; the students should participate in the planning and decision making process of organizing these activities.
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Productive work should become an integral part of the school curriculum and provide meaningful learning experience through the integration of theory and practice.
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Examinations should be downgraded. Passing examinations should not be the main goal of the education system, education should prepare its products how to survive i.e. it should be education for life.
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Children should begin school at seven years so that they would be old enough and sufficiently mature to engage in self reliant and productive work when they leave school.
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Primary education must be complete in itself rather than merely serving as a means to higher education after school. People should be in position to creates jobs and be self reliant.
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Students should become self confident and cooperative and develop critical and inquiring minds. The education system had to produce people who can express themselves and are able to work with other.
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Achievements of the education for self reliance in Tanzania
It cannot be denied that Nyerere‟s education for self reliance registered some achievements in Tanzania. Some of the notable achievements are listed here below.
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Education was made a right of all Tanzanians.
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This was done irrespectively of one‟s race and level of income. There was introduction of free education from primary level to the university thus making it possible for all Tanzanians to have access to education.
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Increased literacy rate.
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The policy of education for self reliance played a great role in increasing the literacy rate in the country. Tanzania‟s adult literacy rate was among the highest in Africa, it was about 85%. This was due to the deliberate policy of Nyerere to introduce adult education.
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Introduction of unity.
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Education for self reliance was very instrumental in the introduction of unity in the country. It was characterized by absence of discrimination and the students who were admitted in secondary schools were posted to different areas in the country besides their home areas, this policy promoted unity in the country.
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Regional balance.
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The policy led to regional balance in the country. Colonial education was characterized with regional imbalance where education was mainly offered in production areas thus neglecting other areas which had nothing to offer to the colonialists. Education for self reliance ensured that all regions have access to education.
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Use of Swahili.
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Education for self reliance was characterized with the introduction of Swahili as the media of instruction. This language is now the national language of the country and it is very instrumental in reducing aspects of tribalism thus ensuring unity.
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Diversification of the education curriculum.
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There was diversification of content in the education system from being mainly agricultural to different disciplines. This was crucial step in producing educated people with different specialties; this move was taken to support development in the country.
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Increased enrollment in both primary and secondary schools.
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There was an increase of primary and secondary school enrollment following the government‟s campaign and emphasis on education. Enrollment in colonial education was restricted; the colonialists simply wanted few Africans who would assist the colonial administrators.
NOTE: It should be pointed out that, the attempt to build a socialist and self reliant society through political, economic, social and educational actions has largely failed. Since 1986 in particular, the united republic of Tanzania was been steadily moving to the right. The country is now much more integrated into the capitalist world system than it was at the time of independence. However one cannot deny the achievements registered by the policy of self reliance.