The government of Tanzania, with support from a US$15 million GPE COVID-19 emergency grant administered by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), is ensuring the basic education system continues to build back better.

Support from the GPE emergency grant has contributed to improved access to learning materials in the most vulnerable communities, cleaner schools, and increased emergency preparation.

Through government coordination and shared vision across GPE and other donors, this grant also enhances ongoing national and multi-lateral programs aimed at improving teaching and learning.

Access to textbooks and learning materials is one of the most important factors contributing to academic learning, in addition to teachers. The government took a multi-faceted approach to ensuring that all girls and boys can access the teaching and learning materials they need.

To support equity in the short-term, while teachers and students were relying on textbooks to ‘catch up’ on lost learning time after school closures, the government produced and distributed additional textbooks, large-print and braille books to primary schools which had the highest need for materials.

To ensure long-term provision of multi-media teaching and learning materials, the government has invested in new radio and TV studio equipment for the Tanzania Institute of Education.

This will enable the Institute to expand its production of radio and video lessons, which can be used by teachers and students in the event of any future closures.

These lessons will also be accessible at any time, even when schools are open, to supplement classroom teaching and provide multiple access points to curricular topics.

Thanks to the GPE COVID-19 emergency grant, over 400 primary schools which had no water source are now connected with wells and sustainable water catchment systems.

Additionally, over 1,100 schools have new and inclusive latrines and handwashing stations. These School Water and Sanitation facilities will continue to prevent the spread of germs and keep children safe from disease at school.

Through support from GPE and UNICEF, the Government of Tanzania has prepared an Education Sector Multi-Hazard Response, Preparedness, Recovery and Mitigation Strategy.

This evidence-based strategy was developed through a collaborative process involving ministry and government institutions, students, teachers, administrators and community organizations. It provides a comprehensive disaster management approach to ensure children’s protection.

An important aspect of the program has been its support for monitoring, reporting and tracking safety in schools.

In addition to strengthening routine reporting systems to include health and safety indicators needed for the pandemic, the grant program provided equipment to local Ward Education Officers and district-level School Quality Assurers.

The equipment supports monitoring and enables officers to perform vital roles in the implementation of a new National Framework for Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TPD).

Implementation of the Framework’s evidence-based, decentralized, school- and cluster-level system for timely and relevant TPD is supported by the GPE-LANES grant, the multi-lateral Education Program for Results II, World Bank BOOST, and FCDO’s Shule Bora programs.

Government coordination and shared vision among GPE, Sida and other donors, has been key to ensuring a unified and effective approach to improving teaching and learning.