THE State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) is set to host this year’s Utafiti Elimu Tanzania (UET) conference scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday.

The annual UET conference serves as a vital bridge connecting research insights with actionable policy and practice.

The conference will bring together policymakers, educators and researchers to drive evidence-based solutions to education challenges in the country.

The College of Information and Communication Technologies (CoICT) of the University of Dar es Salaam is one of the partners scheduled to take part in this year’s conference. 

Dr. Leonard Binamungu, CoICT principal, praises the initiative, saying: “The future of education depends on collaboration between research institutions, government, and private sector leaders to drive policies that improve learning outcomes.”

 Since its launch by EdTech hub in 2022, UET has become a vital platform for addressing systemic education challenges. This year’s conference will focus on issues like dropout rates, teacher training, climate resilience and the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in workforce development, particularly in the blue economy.

 Hannah Simmons, country co-lead for EdTech hub, emphasised the importance of collaboration: “By working together, we can strengthen evidence-based approaches to improve teacher effectiveness, student engagement and digital inclusion.”

 Tanzania is grappling with significant education challenges, including dropout of over 306,000 pupils in 2023 (BEST 2024). Although primary school enrolment stands at 93.07 percent (World Bank), retention and progression remain key concerns. UET 2025 will focus on tackling pupil retention, teacher training, and the impact of climate change on education.