In most modern economies, science is compulsory until the last year of secondary education*

However, in Tanzania, pupils have to decide between humanities and sciences at an earlier stage.

EACGPA has discussed with Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) and Ministry of Education in Zanzibar on making the transition to delay this choice, so students’ futures aren’t limited. 

The current delivery of the science curriculum:

• A range of O levels undertaken by pupils till form 2. In form 3, pupils are either in the science or art stream, depending on academic ability.
• The science stream covers physics, chemistry and biology separately, whilst the art stream, which offers humanities, does biology only.
• For A levels, science stream pupils have a choice of PCB or PCM, which charts their entry into medical or engineering related careers.
• The art stream can take humanities at A levels.

Proposed changes to the science curriculum:

•  That all students take all the 3 sciences in form 3 and 4.
•  The more able pupils, 20-40% of the cohort, are given 3 subjects equivalent.
•  The second batch appear for the three subjects, called combined science, and have equivalent to 2 GCSEs.
•  The third batch, foundation science, do the same but get the equivalent to one GCSE in science.

Anticipated positive impacts:

• Towards the end of form 2, pupils will not have to make a daunting choice of a science or art stream for the next two years.
• They will have more time to decide on their career ideas.
• Pupils who have been put in the combined science group can apply for technical fields requiring chemistry and physics, e.g. trades
• The economy on the whole will have more flexibility in the labour market.

*Form 2 is Year 9, which is pre-GCSE or O-level, then Form 3 /4 is Years 10/11, when GCSE/O-levels take place.