DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTRY of Education, Science and Technology, in collaboration with various stakeholders, is continuing to implement reforms aimed at expanding self-employment and employability opportunities while contributing to national development.
Through a series of policy improvements under the 2014 Education and Training Policy, including increased emphasis on information and communication technology (ICT) and other digital tools in teaching, the government is intensifying efforts to enhance the quality of education in response to rapid global technological advancements.
The Director of Science, Technology and Innovation at the Ministry, Professor Ladislaus Mnyone said that alongside expanding the use of technology in classrooms, there is need to strengthen research and innovation capacity so that the country becomes a contributor to technological development rather than merely a consumer.
“We have continued to take various measures to achieve our set targets, including the approval and rollout of the National Digital Education Strategy, which will be implemented over five years from 2025 to 2030. Therefore, it is imperative that we adequately prepare our youth in basic subjects so that they become innovators and technology producers,” he said over the weekend during the launch of the ‘Somo’ platform, a new digital programme for teaching and learning.
Prof Mnyone added that the government has continued to place strong emphasis on expanding the use of technology while undertaking broader reforms across the education sector.
The ‘Somo’ initiative, coordinated and supervised by the Rauma Foundation in collaboration with Vodacom Tanzania through the company’s ‘Twenzetu Darasani’ campaign, reflects joint privatesector efforts to expand access to and improve the quality of education in the country.
Through the platform, schools and teachers are connected via technology, enabling interactive and modern learning while ensuring that students with special needs are not left behind.
The initiative also builds teachers’ capacity to use digital tools effectively, bridging the gap between education policy and practical implementation.
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According to the developers, the digital learning system is capable of integrating existing digital education platforms already in use in some secondary schools, reducing the burden of operating multiple technologies simultaneously.
Vodacom Tanzania’s Head of Enterprise Products and Solutions, Mr Ally Zuheri, said the platform will enhance students’ productivity by equipping them with the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to thrive in a modern economy.
“A nation with education is a wealthy nation, and technology is a powerful tool for enabling inclusive education regardless of geographical differences,” he said.
Rauma Foundation Founder and Executive Director, Ms Rahma Mohamed Abdallah, said the launch reflects the need for education to evolve alongside global changes.
“Through this system, schools and teachers are connected via technology, enabling students to learn in an interactive and modern way, without leaving behind those with special needs. We are also building teachers’ capacity to use digital tools effectively while bridging the gap between policy and practical implementation,” she said.