The Tanzanian government has announced plans to address the persistent teacher shortage in the country, particularly in science subjects. According to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr. Festo Dugange, the government will recruit more teachers in the 2026/27 financial year, with a focus on schools with the greatest shortages and graduates who have waited longest for formal employment. This move aims to address the growing demand for teachers, driven in part by increased enrollment following the introduction of fee-free education and the construction of new schools nationwide.
Dr. Dugange told Parliament on November 2, 2026, that the government has continued to recruit teachers every year to address the shortage. Between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 financial years, the government recruited 64,772 teachers, including 15,054 in the last financial year. These recruits were deployed to areas with the greatest demand, particularly rural schools. Despite this recruitment, the country still faces a shortage of science teachers, partly because most unemployed graduates seeking teaching jobs are not specialized in science subjects.
The government plans to prioritize graduates who have waited longest for formal employment and consider their age and waiting period after graduation. Applicants, including those who have volunteered in schools while awaiting formal employment, will still be required to sit for interviews. Successful candidates will be considered based on their waiting period after graduation and age. This means that voluntary teaching experience does not guarantee employment, although the government will take it into account.
The recruitment process will continue annually, alongside the filling of vacancies arising from retirement and other departures from the public service. The government also plans to engage volunteer teachers under the 2026 guidelines on volunteering in the public service. This move aims to address the growing demand for teachers and school facilities as more pupils are expected to join Form One in 2028.
The national teacher deficit exceeds 33 percent, with a significant shortage in science subjects. Dr. Dugange attributed the growing demand for teachers partly to increased enrollment following the introduction of fee-free education and the construction of new schools nationwide. The government has continued to recruit teachers every year to address the shortage, but the country still faces a significant gap in the number of teachers needed.
Bukoba Rural MP Jasson Rweikiza had sought to know when the government would address shortages in primary and secondary schools. In response, Dr. Dugange assured the MP that the government is committed to addressing the teacher shortage and has made significant progress in recruiting teachers in recent years. However, the government still faces challenges in attracting and retaining science teachers.
The government's plan to recruit more teachers and prioritize long-waiting graduates aims to address the persistent teacher shortage in Tanzania. With preparations underway to meet growing demand for teachers and school facilities, the government is expected to continue recruiting teachers annually to address the shortage. The engagement of volunteer teachers under the 2026 guidelines on volunteering in the public service is also expected to help address the shortage.
Key points
- The Tanzanian government has pledged to recruit more teachers in the 2026/27 financial year, prioritizing schools with the greatest shortages and graduates who have waited longest for formal employment.
- The country still faces a significant shortage of science teachers, partly because most unemployed graduates seeking teaching jobs are not specialized in science subjects.
- The government has recruited 64,772 teachers between the 2021/22 and 2025/26 financial years, including 15,054 in the last financial year.
