Boston, Massachusetts — Education in Tanzania was a disaster. Most of the elementary school students dropped out, and teachers had no books or desks for their students. In 2018, almost half of Tanzania’s population lived on less than her $1.90 a day. As families below the international poverty line struggle to survive each day, education plummets from their top priority list. Schools, children and their families in rural Tanzania suffered even worse. That is until 2007, when Nancy Scurll and Betsy McCombstoke went on a trip with friends to public school Mili in the Arusha region of Tanzania. Shortly after touring the school, Scurll and McCombs founded a non-profit organization called Friends of Meali International. Improving education in Tanzania.

Education crisis in Tanzania

Education in Tanzania is improving, but there is still a long way to go. Earlier this year, only 5.4% of her elementary school students could understand and read. Public schools continue to struggle to obtain the materials they need to teach their children, and teacher shortages continue.

When USAID partnered with the Tanzanian government to mitigate the country’s education crisis in May, it identified four key education challenges in the country.

1. Very high student-teacher ratio

2. Public schools have high teacher turnover, especially in rural Tanzania.

3. Young girls are more likely than boys to drop out of school because of poverty, teenage pregnancy, marriage and gender-based violence in schools.

4. Poor quality of education in public schools

Friends of Meali International Strategy

When Friends of Meali International was first established, it supported Meali Public Schools by purchasing teaching materials, building classrooms, and paying scholarships. In just five years, the organization was able to transform his Meali and move on to help other schools. The nonprofit has developed his two-step strategy for use at two of his new schools, Losilwa and Oldiani, which have adopted it.

First, Friends of Meali International focuses on the school’s “capital improvement project.” Past projects have included building a cafeteria, library, computer center, and installing solar power in all campus buildings.

Friends of Mealy International will implement a program that community members say the school desperately needs. Past programs have included scholarships, advanced English courses and free lunches. The organization’s philosophy is that these programs act as a boost to the schools in the communities they serve.

progress in education

Since its first donation to Mealy Public Schools, Friends of Mealy International has increased the number of students entering primary school and has seen a significant increase in girls. More students went on to secondary school and one of her students is now in medical school.

Each year, the non-profit organization serves approximately 2,000 local students. The organization improved her Meali to operate stably. Friends of Meali International plans to expand and support other public schools in Tanzania once the current project is completed.

The organization says it has seen unexpected and surprising improvements in Tanzanian students, especially young girls. They want to be teachers, doctors, police officers and computer experts,” the organization wrote on its website. “By removing some obstacles and improving the educational environment, more students can achieve their dreams!”

– Delaney Murray
Photo: Flickr