DODOMA: THE government has directed education institutions to review academic programmes to ensure graduates acquire skills that match labour market demands.
The directive was issued yesterday by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof Carolyne Nombo, while opening the ministry’s annual management meeting with heads of institutions under the ministry for the 2026/27 financial year.
Speaking on behalf of the minister, Prof Nombo said the reforms are needed to support implementation of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050 and prepare graduates for a rapidly changing economy.
She said universities, colleges and training institutions must continuously review their programmes to ensure graduates acquire competencies that respond to emerging employment opportunities and technological transformation.
“We must respond to the changing demands of the labour market. Tanzanians are increasingly questioning whether some programmes still prepare graduates for today’s world of work. That feedback should guide us in reviewing and introducing relevant programmes,” Prof Nombo said.
She revealed that the ministry has launched a nationwide skills-mapping exercise to identify competencies required across key sectors of the economy, with the findings expected to guide curriculum reforms and future training programmes.
“The pace of global change is faster than our response. As education leaders, we must ensure our institutions keep pace with technological advancement and economic transformation,” she said.
Prof Nombo directed institutions to align their strategic plans and budget implementation with the Vision, which identifies education as a key driver of industrialisation, innovation and economic competitiveness.
She said that the Vision anticipates the private sector contributing about 70 per cent of the investment required to transform the economy, making stronger publicprivate partnerships essential to expanding education and workforce development.
The Permanent Secretary urged universities, technical colleges and regulatory authorities to adopt more flexible systems that allow experienced industry professionals to participate in practical training, particularly in vocational trades, creative arts and other specialised disciplines.
“We need practical solutions that allow experienced professionals from industry to contribute directly to skills development. Our regulations should facilitate, rather than hinder, such partnerships,” she said.
Prof Nombo also directed institutions to strengthen collaboration with employers and industry to ensure graduates possess market-driven competencies while accelerating implementation of flagship programmes such as the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project and the Eastern Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP).
She further instructed institutions to prepare for implementation of the 10-year compulsory education policy, including management of the double cohort expected in 2028 and expansion of vocational education under the revised Education and Training Policy, 2014 (2023 Edition).
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Prof Nombo also urged institutions to explore innovative financing mechanisms, including publicprivate partnerships and income-generating initiatives, following a reduction in the ministry’s budget allocation for the 2026/27 financial year.
She further directed institutions to fast-track integration of their digital platforms into the Education Sector Management Information System (ESMIS), saying a unified information system would improve planning, data management and evidence-based decisionmaking.
“There should be no need for officers to request enrolment figures or other statistics manually. All information should be accessible through one integrated digital platform,” she said.
Prof Nombo commended institutions for implementing government programmes during the 2025/26 financial year despite operational challenges, saying the annual meeting would assess performance under the previous budget and set priorities for the year ahead in line with the Vision.