Prime
Hope and Anxiety: Inside Tanzania’s teacher recruitment rush
What you need to know:
- 200,000 teacher graduates in Tanzania are currently competing for 14,648 vacancies in government schools, following years of missed recruitment opportunities
Dar es Salaam. At a crowded interview centre in Dar es Salaam, a weary graduate flips through her old college notes, trying to recall teaching methods she learned a decade ago.
Around her, dozens of others do the same — all hoping to secure one of the 14,648 teaching slots in a job market that has left many in limbo for years.
A large number of teacher graduates in Tanzania are currently competing for limited government teaching positions, following years of missed recruitment opportunities.
The ongoing interviews for these slots have exposed the desperation and challenges faced by educators, especially those who graduated years ago and have struggled to secure employment.
The recruitment process, which began on January 14, 2025, is conducted by the President’s Office, Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, in collaboration with the ministry of Education and the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).
Over 200,000 graduates applied, making it highly competitive.
At various interview centres in Dar es Salaam, including the National Institute of Transport (NIT) and the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), on January 15, 2025, candidates anxiously revised their notes. Some had been out of classrooms for nearly a decade, feeling underprepared.
“It feels like trying my luck,” said one candidate who graduated in 2015 with a degree in History and Geography. “I’ve been working in agriculture since graduation. I’m worried I won’t perform well because I’ve forgotten a lot.”
The struggle was evident among older graduates, who carried study materials to refresh their memory.
“The competition is stiff. It’s been almost 10 years since I graduated. I took other jobs to survive, and now I’m trying to return to teaching,” another candidate shared.
For more recent graduates, the mood was optimistic. A 2022 graduate said, “I think I have a better chance because I’m still familiar with teaching content. But even with over 200,000 applicants, it’s hard to say for sure.”
The backlog of teacher graduates stems from a recruitment freeze between 2015 and 2020, which created a surplus of unemployed teachers.
The current government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been addressing this through phased recruitment drives. However, demand for jobs still far exceeds available positions.
“This backlog has created a significant challenge for both the government and graduates,” said education analyst Dr Thomas Jabir.
“The phased recruitment is commendable, but the supply of teachers far outweighs the demand. It’s necessary to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are hired.
The government’s approach to teacher recruitment involves a rigorous interview process aimed at selecting the best candidates.
The minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, emphasised the importance of quality and competence in teaching.
“We will hire you because you are proven,” Prof Mkenda said. “When you board a plane, you don’t ask the pilot’s nationality. You expect competence. Tanzanians should expect well-qualified teachers in every school.”
This marks a shift from the past, when any graduate with a teaching degree or diploma could teach.
Experts say this led to instances where unqualified individuals compromised education quality.
“This change is positive,” Dr Jabir said. “It prioritises quality over quantity, even if some feel disadvantaged by the new requirements.”
However, some candidates remain sceptical.
One interviewee argued that the new process might shift blame to candidates if they fail to secure jobs.
“When we joined colleges, recruitment wasn’t this complicated. Now it feels like they’re dodging responsibility. If we fail, we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves,” a candidate lamented.
Despite the concerns, the government is committed to improving education by hiring the best talent.
Minister of State in the President's Office – Public Service Management and Good Governance, Mr George Simbachawene, highlighted the scale of the challenge.
“We have 14,648 positions available, but 201,707 applicants. This shows the magnitude of the issue we’re dealing with.”
Experts suggest alternative solutions to address the surplus of graduates, such as creating more private school opportunities, promoting adult education programmes, or encouraging graduates to explore opportunities abroad.
“We need sustainable solutions,” Dr Jabir advised.
“Phased recruitment is helpful, but the government should also review enrolment policies in training institutions to ensure we don’t produce more teachers than the system can absorb.”
