Estonians visit Tanzania to help improve vocational education

Four staff members of Kuressaare Ametikool recently visited Moshi, Tanzania, to participate in the kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ Kilimanjaro VET project. The project aims to improve vocational education in Tanzania by providing training and support to teachers and schools.

Staff members spent a week in Moshi, where they met with teachers, students, and administrators from local vocational schools. They also conducted focus groups and interviews to gather information about the current state of vocational education in Tanzania.

They learned that vocational education in Tanzania is much less well-funded than in Estonia. The Tanzanian education system follows a 7-4-2-3 model, with seven years of primary school, four years of secondary school, two years of pre-university education, and three to four years of college or vocational training.

Primary and secondary education are free, but the costs of materials and other expenses can be prohibitive for many families. Tertiary education, including vocational training, is also tuition-based.

Instruction is conducted in Swahili in primary school, but English is the language of instruction for secondary and tertiary education. Schools may be affiliated with and funded by a variety of institutions, but all schools follow national curriculums.

The proportion of practical classes is lower in Tanzania than in Estonia, and the quality of school facilities varies widely. Staff members also visited a vocational school affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, where the workshops and apprenticeship programs are of very good quality.

In theory classes, teachers may have 50 to 100 students, and they typically do not have access to projectors or other technological resources. Nevertheless, the teachers are very intelligent, well-educated, and motivated to improve their skills. Teacher salaries range from €200 to €500 per month.

Moshi is located about 7,000 kilometers from Kuressaare, Estonia, on the other side of the equator. The city of 200,000 inhabitants is one of the main starting points for climbers ascending Mount Kilimanjaro.

On a clear day, the highest peak in Africa and the world's tallest free-standing mountain can be seen from many parts of the city. Although 50,000 people climb Kilimanjaro each year, tourists are not a common sight in Moshi.

In comparison to Estonia, people in Tanzania are much more religious. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, with its 8.5 million members, is the second-largest Lutheran church in the world. The average standard of living is much lower in Tanzania than in Estonia. Of the country's 66 million inhabitants, 26 million live in extreme poverty.

However, there are also wealthy areas of Moshi with large villas and expensive SUVs. The main economic activity is agriculture. Many people are trying to start their own small businesses, but they often lack the initial capital, such as money to buy a sewing machine.

In their conversations with Tanzanians, staff members learned that many people are also hoping for investment from European individuals. They are establishing contacts with tourists and offering them a stake in their small businesses.

For the wealthy Tanzanians many services are available. For example, you can hire a professional video and lighting crew for your wedding or order digital printing services. However, these services are out of reach for the majority of the population.

While services aimed at tourists (from accommodation to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or going on a safari in Serengeti or another national park) are also expensive for Estonians, things aimed at locals are very cheap. For example, a fresh and delicious mango costs 1,000 shillings, or about 37 cents.

Kind people

Undoubtedly, the most touching thing about Tanzanians is their extraordinary kindness, attentiveness, and warmth. Every person you meet greets you and asks how you are doing, and this happens even on the street. This is certainly one of the learning experiences for Estonians.

The project activities will continue at home and online. In September, Tanzanian teachers will come to Estonia, and another group of Tanzanians will go to Oulu, Finland. In 2025, a teacher training program is planned in Tanzania.

The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Capacity Building measure, which is aimed at supporting vocational education in third countries.