EDUCATION stakeholders have advised that the policy of re-enrolling pupils who drop out of school for various reasons, including pregnancy, should be enforced by law to ensure its success.

They made the remarks recently on the first day of the Fourth International Conference on Education Quality held in Dar es Salaam and attended by various stakeholders.

Anna Sawaki, Director of Projects and Partnerships at CAMFED, said it is crucial for the initiative to be sustainable to benefit more young Tanzanians who face various challenges.

She highlighted that there are various reasons that cause pupils to drop out, including teenage pregnancies, truancy, difficult home environments and long distances to and from school.

Although the government has established the 2023 Education and Training Policy which allows pupils who left school for various reasons to re-enrol in the formal education system and complete their studies, she said without sustainability, it would not adequately help.

Martha Makala, Coordinator of Tanzania Education Network (TEN/MET), stated that the country has made significant strides in education by incorporating the plan into policy. She hopes it will become a legal requirement to ensure sustainable implementation, helping pupils who left school to return and complete their education.

TEN/MET and other organizations selected by the government to form a committee to review the 1978 education policy have submitted recommendations to include the policy in legislation.

“It should have its own guidelines, its own law and its own regulations to help us as a country to ensure continuity for pupils who drop out for various reasons so they can enjoy their fundamental rights,” she said.

“We raise awareness across the entire country about the importance of education for both male and female pupils, including those with disabilities as it is their fundamental and constitutional right.”

Maron Kakoti, Head of Information Technology Department at Jenga Hub, stated that having a law to support the system would empower civil society organizations to help children from various backgrounds access education without discrimination.

Tanzania's school re-entry policy allows adolescent mothers to return to public schools after giving birth. The policy was announced in November 2021 in the form of the Education Circular No. 2 of 2021. The policy aims to increase access to education and promote social justice.

Before the policy change, an estimated 6,550–15,000 Tanzanian girls and adolescents were forced out of school each year due to pregnancy. However, the policy faces challenges, including weak implementation.