Human Rights to Education in Tanzania: Evaluation on the Social Structure and Government Policies

Abstract

Education is one of the most powerful tools in lifting excluded children and adults out of poverty and is a steppingstone to other fundamental human rights (UNESCO, 2023). Education has played a vital role in Tanzania’s development since independence, but low attendance rates, high drop-out rates, poor performance, and high gender disparities are still prevalent issues in Tanzania schools. According to the United Nations Children's Fund, Tanzania’s peak for granting compulsory education occurred in 2007, achieving a nearly universal access to primary education. However, since then, enrolment of primary school-aged children has been falling. World Bank data demonstrated an estimated 2 million children between the ages of 7 and 13 being out-of-school, and the net intake rate in grade 1 of official school-age population is only 50% in 2017. Almost 70% of children aged 14–17 years are not enrolled in secondary education while only 3.2% are enrolled for the final two years of schooling. This research aims to help define an effective strategy informed by human right through identifying and analyzing the current social trend, government actions, and key laws and policies relevant to the rights to education. The information utilized in this research reflects what is publicly available; it is neither intended to be exhaustive nor to be an authoritative analysis of the situation in the country, but to be a useful tool for reflection on the right to education.