ZANZIBAR
FAWE Zanzibar contact details
Coordinator: Asma Ismail
Chair: Mrs. Rabia Hamdan
Address:FAWE Zanzibar Chapter
Voga Street
Chuo cha Uandishiwa Habari
P.O. Box 3330
ZANZIBAR
Tel:(255) 242 223-5226/777205944;255 777 422 870
E-mail:fawezan@zanlink.com; asmabim@hotmail.com;rmahamdani@yahoo.com
BACKGROUND:
Population: 641,000 people
Area: 2,382 sq. km
5 regions, 10 districts
GNP average annual growth rate: 4.5% per annum
KEY GOVERNMENT EDUCATION POLICIES:
- Government encourages partnerships with religious authorities and external partners. This policy increased enrolments in ECC from 2.8% in 1998 to 86.2% in 1998
- No compulsory payment of school fees but communities are encouraged to contribute
- Girls are given incentives in order to increase enrollments
- Government runs sensitization programmes for communities to address needs of girls and special children
- There is an active policy to promote participation of girls in science and technology
- Provision of education to neo-literates (re-entry) through radio and group programmes
- Provision of guidance and counseling services in schools
- Developing an accreditation system for ‘Madrasah’ and ‘Quran’ schools in order to provide quality education.
KEY COUNTRY CHALLENGES IN GIRLS EDUCATION
- Shortage of classrooms and other teaching facilities
- Lack of laboratories and other science facilities
- Few female teachers
- Predominant use of Kiswahili language affecting development of the English language
- Poverty limiting access to education
- High dropout rates
- Poor curriculum that does not reflect learners’ needs
- By 1996, there was not a single institution of higher learning that offered degrees and post-graduate diplomas
- Poor performance in SMT