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CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER (CEO) -- Adult and Non-formal Education

About Adult and Non-formal Education Unit

Adult and Non-Formal Education is currently managed by two ministries; the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) and Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG). The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) is currently responsible for policy formulation, planning, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and activities. The PMO-RALG through the Local Government Authorities and Civil Society Organizations are the main implementers of the programmes. The MoEVT also manages the Mwanza National Literacy Centre, the Adult Education Press and the Education Sector Development Programme Zonal Newsletters prepared and distributed by Zonal Education Press Offices at Dodoma (Central Zone), Morogoro (Eastern Zone), Songea (Southern Zone), Mbeya (Highlands Zone), Tabora (Western Zone ) and Mwanza (Lake Zone).

The Adult and Non-formal Education Unit also co-ordinates the Education for All (EFA) activities in Tanzania Mainland.

The Structure of Adult and Non-Formal Education

 Adult Education

Adult Education is any learning activity which takes place either in or outside the school setting to address the learning needs of mature people . Varied educational needs, including basic education, literacy, vocational education, civic education, health care and hygiene, childcare, home economics, life skills and higher education, etc. can be catered for by the adult education sub-sector

Adult Education in Tanzania focuses on functional literacy, post-literacy, literacy supporting programmes (i.e. Workers’ Education, Film Education, Community Based Resource Centres, Radio Education and Rural Press) and continuing education. Whereas, functional literacy and post-literacy are implemented under the Integrated Community Based Adult Education (ICBAE) programme in stages I and II, Continuing Education encompasses a variety of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses designed to cover programmes including Correspondence Education, Self Study and Extra-Mural programmes. Continuing Education programmes enable participants to move from non-formal to appropriate formal education, vocational and/or professional training, including access into the Open University of Tanzania.

The importance of adult education lies in its positive relationship between the learning process, enhanced productivity and socio-economic development. In addition, it reinforces both formal and informal education. However, unlike informal and NFE, adult education is structured and formalized because it is normally given within specific environment and media.

The objectives of adult education are:

• to eradicate illiteracy, sustain post-literacy and numeracy
• promote the acquisition and development of basic knowledge and functional skills relevant to ersonal development and life in the community.
• to lay foundations for lifelong education
• to ensure the realization of the basic human right of Education for All, and
• to complement formal education

Non–Formal Education

Non–Formal Education (NFE) is any organized, systematic, educational activity carried outside the framework of the formal education system to provide selected types of learning to particular sub groups in the population including adults as well as children and youth. NFE is characterized by having flexible and diversified curriculum which is responsive to learner and environmental needs. Its structure has flexible points of entry and exit, re-entry and re-exit. The evaluation is validated by learners’ experience of success and the delivery is environmental based, community related, learner centred, resource serving, self governing and democratic.

Objectives of adult and Non-Formal Education in Tanzania are to:-

• provide alternative education to those who lack opportunity to acquire formal schooling.
• extend formal schooling for those who need additional training or to become self employed.
• update skills for those who are already employed
• counter balance some of the distortions created by formal education
• provide greater opportunity for innovation

The courses and programmes offered serve as an alternative for those who lack the opportunity to acquire formal schooling. The programmes also offer opportunities for continuing education and serve as means of developing, or upgrading skills for employment, and self-employment. However, both fomal and non-formal education systems may be mutually inclusive at certain stages in the educational process.

Non-Formal Education for out of school children and youth is offered through COBET and ACCESS programmes in Cohort I and II (11-13 years old). Successful graduands of Cohort I are mainstreamed in Standard IV of formal primary schools and those of cohort II (14 – 18 years old) do Standard VII exams. Those who pass join Form I in ordinary secondary schools. The course duration set for adult and non-formal education programme is three years for out- of- school children and youth, and 18 months for adults. During this period, the child (11-13 years old) is supposed to reach a class five level of formal primary education. The youth (14 – 18 years old) are supposed to reach the level of education equivalent to class seven. This is taken to be an average duration but flexibility is required to accommodate slow and fast learners. The modular approach advocates fixed achievement at variable time. Depending on learner’s entry point or classification and aptitude, some may complete the package in much shorter time and others may need much more time than three years.

Management Structure of Adult and Non-Formal Education Unit

Adult and Non-Formal Education in the Ministry is one of the four Units under the Office of Chief Education Officer. The Unit is headed by Assistant Director and under him there are two Heads of Sections, desk officers and supporting staff. The two sections are the Management and Administration and the Development and Monitoring section. The former is charged with the role of facilitating accomplishment of the management functions of the unit. The section is responsible for:-

• Reviewing policy, plans and regulations related to Adult and Non-Formal Education provision.
• To co-ordinate, prepare and issue guidelines for establishment of Adult and Non-Formal Education centres.
• Issuing guidelines on management of the National Literacy Centre, Adult Education Press and zonal ESDP Newsletters.
• Co-ordinating and accounting budget preparation, financial and material resource allocation to Local Government Authorities National Literacy Centre and Zonal ESDP Newsletter offices.
• Solicit funds from within and outside the country for the implementation of Adult and Non-Formal Education programmes.

Development and Monitoring section is responsible for:

• Setting and monitoring standards of training.
• Reviewing the Adult and Non-Formal Education curricula, the teaching and learning materials and teaching methods with focus to participatory practical methodologies.
• Co-ordinating professional development of Adult and Non-Formal Education teachers.
• Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the programmes and courses conducted in districts by LGAs and NGOs.
• Monitoring programmes conducted in the Community Based Resource Centres (CBRCs).

At the district level, the Adult and Non-Formal Education Programmes including the Complementary Basic Education in Tanzania (COBET) and Integrated Community Based adult Education (ICBAE), are managed by the District Education Officer and Co-ordinated by the District Adult Education Co-ordinator. The District Councils also manages a system of (CBRCs)

Status of Implementation of Adult and NFE up to June 2006

Effective from July 2003, the Adult Education Unit has been implementing the Adult and Non-Formal Education Strategy in collaboration with the Primary Education Department, Councils and NGOs. The following are some of the milestones of the implementation.

Adult Education Press (‘Press A’ and Zonal Rural Newsletter Presses )

UNESO assisted the government of Tanzania in early 1970s to establish a printing unit during the Adult Education Literacy Campaign. The aim of the printing unit was to print simple reading material for adult learners and books for village libraries. Later in 1979 it was discovered that there was shortage of adult education materials in many parts of the country. Thus, seven printing units were established in each of the educational zones to print zonal newsletters for adult learners and neo-literates. Nonetheless, printing machines were installed in only three zonal newsletter presses, namely Tabora, Mbeya and Songea.

After the rehabilitation of the Press A in 1985, 12 workers were sent abroad to attend printing courses and others attended training courses in the country. The printing unit in Dar es Salaam had more capacity of printing more government materials including ministerial budget speeches, project books and folders. In the meantime the zonal rural newsletter presses were able to print up to 500,000 copies of adult newsletters per month. All this time SIDA was the main donor of all the adult education printing presses.

In 1992 SIDA reduced its assistance in the education sector and withdrew from assisting the adult education presses. This was the fall of the Adult Education Printing Unit in Dar es Salaam and the Zonal Rural Newsletter Presses.

Efforts to revamp the Press A and Zonal Rural Newsletter Press are underway. The government has ecided to convert the printing units into executive agency but the modalities of implementing the decision are still being discussed.