Tanzania: Solving the teacher shortage problem

A shortage of teachers in over 250 schools has been the focus of Government and education union action in Zanzibar. The fundamental issue for both is to determine how Zanzibar can train, recruit and retain teachers in their teaching jobs.

Working conditions, including professional teaching conditions, play a substantial role in teachers' decisions to quit teaching in a particular school or district and even contribute to them deciding to leave the profession altogether.

“ZATU, the sole union organising teachers in the isles, has initiated several efforts to tackle the qualified teachers’ problem in the country,” said ZATU General Secretary Mussa Omar Tafurwa. “Among these efforts is the teachers’ professional development programme, through which ZATU assists members in acquiring qualifications to join a teachers’ training college. The assistance is made through financial support to pay for the national O Level and A Level examinations.”