More than 150 billion Tanzania Shillings (approx $120 million) was misappropriated in 2008, according to a report in Tanzania’s The Citizen newspaper. The losses were revealed in an official report, the Public Expenditure Tracking Survey. Part of the money is lost through payments to ghost workers and absentee teachers. Other losses arise through pilfering of education resources, misallocations, late deliveries, under-utilisation and embezzlement.
Tanzania has a long way to go in improving education standards. There were 78 students for every classroom according to the statistics for 2008, a far worse ratio than the government’s target of 40:1. Educational standards are poor, with a less than 50% pass rate for last year’s primary school leaving examinations. The secondary school pass rate was even worse, at an all-time record low of just 15%.
There is a significant imbalance in the quality of educational resources available in rural and urban areas. In 2008 the government allocated 1,271 new teachers to rural areas, but only 35% of them took up the positions. A disproportionately high number of new teachers took up positions at urban schools, and urban schools received more money than they had been allocated. Teacher absentee rates at rural schools are very high, with many teachers collecting pay but failing to turn up for work.