Joseph Isangura
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has announced plans to establish science-focused secondary schools for boys, following the successful completion of similar schools for girls across all 26 regions of Tanzania.
This initiative aims to strengthen the country’s education system by encouraging more students to pursue science subjects.
The President made the announcement on February 25 while inaugurating a girls’ science school in Kilindi District, Tanga Region, as part of her ongoing tour. She proposed that the school be named after the late Beatrice Shelukindo, a well-known advocate for girls’ education in Tanzania.
“With this project for girls now completed, our next focus will be on boys,” President Hassan stated. “Although boys already benefit significantly from Vocational Education and Training (VET) centres and other technical institutions—where girls also have access—they still hold a greater advantage in science subjects. That’s why we started with these special schools for girls, so they too feel empowered to take up science.”
The initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to improve education and promote gender equality in science and technology fields. The girls’ schools, which were built at a cost of TSh116 billion, are designed with modern laboratories, libraries, and learning facilities to provide a strong foundation in science education. The upcoming boys’ schools are expected to maintain the same high standards, ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
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Education experts and policymakers have welcomed this move, emphasizing that it will help bridge the gender gap in science-related careers. By providing young people with the resources and opportunities to excel in subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics, Tanzania is investing in a skilled workforce that can drive progress in key sectors such as healthcare, engineering, and information technology.
The decision to name the Kilindi school after Beatrice Shelukindo highlights her legacy in championing education for girls. Her efforts have inspired many and continue to shape policies that ensure every child in Tanzania, regardless of gender, has access to quality education.
President Hassan’s commitment to strengthening the education system is seen as a crucial step toward building a future where both boys and girls have equal opportunities to succeed in science and technology. By prioritizing education, Tanzania is laying the groundwork for long-term innovation and development.
