Primary School Teacher Training Program

The project aims to increase the quality of classroom teaching and learning in Tanzania by contributing to improved delivery of pre-primary and primary teacher training in the Mbeya and Njombe regions. The Primary School Teacher Training Program focuses on improving literacy numeracy and life skills learning at the pre-primary and primary school levels in order to lay the foundations for higher learning. The program aims to improve the skills of 5 350 teachers and 1 548 school principals and enhance the involvement of 400 000 parents in their children’s education. It also aims to increase the participation and motivation of 311 000 students to help them better engage in the learning process. Finally the project helps to improve government delivery of education programs. Some project activities include: (1) developing and delivering teaching guidelines and modules focussing on early grade literacy and numeracy; (2) organizing annual teacher recognition events at the district regional and national levels to promote teacher excellence; (3) developing and delivering radio and TV campaigns to engage parents in their children's education; (4) implementing teacher competency frameworks; and (5) supporting school-based teachers’ workshops to demonstrate creative use of locally available materials to produce effective teaching and learning aids.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved learning outcomes in the 3Rs (reading writing and arithmetic) and life skills in target regions; and (2) improved management of primary teacher training at all institutional levels.