UK £89m for Tanzania four million children, especially girls, quality education

Vicky Ford

The UK Minister for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Vicky Ford, has launched a major new

education initiative that will improve the quality and access to education for over 4 million children in Tanzania.

The education programme Shule Bora which means quality education will improve learning outcomes for all children.

Special emphasis will be given to girls, children living with disabilities and those living in deprived areas.

Thanks to UK funding, 15.6 million children across the world have been supported to gain an education between 2015-20, including 8.1 million girls.

Speaking, Ford said, “The UK is a global leader in education and we strongly believe it’s crucial to levelling up across the globe. We remain committed to improving access to high-quality education across Africa. That’s why we are launching the Shule Bora programme here in Tanzania to give the most vulnerable children a chance to learn.

“That includes prioritising girls’ education, who are all too often denied their right to learn. Sadly, it’s often girls that are left behind and that’s why our top priority is educating girls which makes the world a safer, more prosperous place for us all.

“I was pleased to meet again with President Samia Suluhu Hassan. I welcomed the President’s commitment to strengthen education across the country and thanked her for her support in the launch of our major education initiative which will be truly transformative for millions of schoolchildren here.”

The Shule Bora programme is directly funded by UK Official Development Assistance. It will improve learning outcomes for all children, particularly girls, children living with disabilities and those living in deprived areas. It will strengthen Tanzania’s teaching workforce and support the Government of Tanzania in strengthening the value for money of education provision at school.

Ford, Hassan and Foreign Minister Liberata Mulamula also discussed on mutual priorities including the Ukraine crisis, the business environment and climate change.

And speaking as well, British High Commissioner to Tanzania, David Concar, said, “The visit of Minister Ford to Tanzania to launch our flagship education programme and meet with the President are important indications of the rich and ever-expanding relationship between the UK and Tanzania.

“The Minister also saw first-hand how UK expertise and assistance are helping Tanzanian authorities in the fields of security and justice. In a meeting with the Ministry for Investment, Industry and Trade, the Minister also discussed recent developments in the improvement of Tanzania’s business environment and explored the potential for increased UK business access to Tanzania.”