DVV International: Detail

September 2025Joseph Masonda, Tanzania

The prime minister stands in front of a speaker's podium. — Prime Minister Hon. Kassim Majaliwa delivers the opening remarks at the conference

DVV International is proud to celebrate the 50 years’ anniversary of one of its principal national partners in Tanzania – the Institute of Adult Education (IAE). Honoured by the Prime Minister; the Minister for Education, Science and Technology (MoEST); the Permanent Secretary (MoEST); the Commissioner of Education (MoEST); the District Commissioner of Ilala; and many others, DVV International joined leaders, practitioners, and more than 500 partners and guest at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre on 25–27 August 2025 to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Institute of Adult Education (IAE) under the theme “Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development”, indicating the sector’s wide footprint and momentum.

Tanzania’s IAE stands out as a government-established, publicly funded national institute dedicated to adult education – one of the few of its kind on the continent whereas in places like Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, the “Institute of Adult Education” label mostly refers to university-based units whose names have sometimes changed over time. This distinct status reflects the country’s long‑standing policy commitment to ALE.

During independence, Tanzania faced a profound challenge – widespread adult illiteracy. Guided by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s vision, adult education became a nation‑building priority, linking knowledge to self-reliance and development. With this background in 1975, Parliament enacted Act No. 12 establishing the Institute of Adult Education as the country’s anchor institution for Adult Learning and Education (ALE).

The Minister of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), Prof. Adolf Mkenda, reflected on the historical journey of adult education in Tanzania:

When we got our independence, our first President, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, recognised three major enemies: poverty, disease, and ignorance. To defeat ignorance, he launched the national campaign against illiteracy, which made Tanzania one of the most successful developing countries in eradicating illiteracy. – Prof. Adolf Mkenda, Minister of MoEST

A man stands in front of a speaker's podium. — Minister of Education, Prof. Adolf Mkenda, delivering a keynote speech during the event

The Guest of Honour, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, also shared his reflection on the importance of Adult Education in the country

Adult Education is no longer just about reading, writing and numeracy. It has gone far beyond that; it is now a driver of economic, social and technological development in Tanzania. – Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa

Role of IAE: fifty years of striving ALE in the country

Today, the Institute of Adult Education operates as a national anchor for Adult Learning and Education with a multi-campus footprint (Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Mwanza, Kilimanjaro and Ruvuma) and a network of 26 regional centres covering all regions in Tanzania led by resident tutors – giving the Institute presence in every mainland region. This is what enables IAE to reach communities where people live and work.

Academically, IAE offers Bachelor’s degrees, Diplomas/Certificates and two Master’s programmes. Crucially, many awards are delivered via Open and Distance Learning (ODL), with the ODL explicitly offered “in all 26 regional centres” – so adults can study from any region while balancing work and family.

The institute's management and services reflect a university with a comprehensive range of services: teaching/research/consulting and research/consulting/publications, as well as departments for Information Communication Technology (IST) and library services – a structure designed to implement large-scale national programmes.

On programmes and projects, IAE implements or supports national priorities that widen access and promote reintegration into learning and work: the Secondary Education Quality Improvement Programme – Alternative Education Pathways (SEQUIP–AEP); the Integrated Programme for Out-of-School Adolescents (IPOSA); Secondary Education for Out-of-School Adolescent Girls (SEOSAG); Women Empowerment Through Education (Kuwawezesha Wasichana kupitia Elimu); and the Integrated Community-Based Adult Education (ICBAE) Programme – alongside targeted livelihood and value-addition projects.

Together, these initiatives underscore that adult and non-formal education in Tanzania is about real skills for real lives, not literacy alone. What learners gain through IAE’s system is practical and broad skills like foundational literacies, digital and ICT skills, vocational and livelihood skills entrepreneurship and income generation, plus civic/health/social capabilities.

IAE Rector, Prof. Philipo Sanga, reaffirmed the Institute’s mandate:

In short, the major task of this Institute is to oversee the implementation of the government’s vision that ‘no Tanzanian is left behind’ in accessing the right and opportunity to education. – Prof. Philipo Sanga, IAE Rector

Seven people in suits are standing next to each other, the one in the middle holding a certificate. — Matteo Mwita receiving the certificate of appreciation for DVV International, handed by the Minister of MoEST on behalf of the prime minister

Impactful cooperation with DVV International

DVV International has been collaborating with the IAE in Tanzania since the early 1980s, providing scholarships to help students pursue adult education studies. This partnership has focused on developing and managing high-quality ALE programmes. Even today, many individuals in key positions have benefited from this initiative.

Since 2020, DVV International has established a country programme and a regional office in Tanzania. Working closely with the MoEST and the PO-RALG, the institute continues to enhance ALE through policy reforms and dialogue conduct programme reviews, such as the Integrated Community-Based Adult Education (ICBAE), and work on building capacities in ALE programming and management in cooperation with the IAE. This also includes training trainers and community facilitators to ensure adult education is delivered effectively and at scale. Additionally, there has been a strong emphasis on strengthening and expanding Community Learning Centres (CLCs), a community-based adult education service hub that delivers a number of services and the ICBAE programme.

From the outset, we recognised the Institute of Adult Education as a cornerstone in advancing Adult Education and Non‑Formal Education in Tanzania. Together, we have strengthened adult education systems, revitalised the ICBAE programme, expanded Community Learning Centres, and built facilitator capacity nationwide. – Matteo Mwita, Capacity Development Advisor DVV International

DVV International was also recognised by the Prime Minister and received a Certificate of Appreciation – a testament to our shared work with IAE, MoEST, and PO-RALG to strengthen adult and lifelong learning in Tanzania. We were proud to speak on behalf of development partners and contribute throughout the sessions.

One of the most important outcomes of the 50th Anniversary was the set of resolutions passed, charting the future of adult and non-formal education in Tanzania. These included:

Alternative Pathways: MoEST to issue a policy circular guiding primary/secondary leavers who cannot proceed in the formal system toward credible alternative education routes.
CLC in Every Ward: MoEST to require Community Learning Centres nationwide to ensure equitable local access to learning opportunities at the community level.
Governance & Oversight: Comprehensive review and modernisation of Adult Education Committee guidelines from national to ward level, clarifying leadership, composition, and roles and aligning them with current socio-economic contexts.
Dedicated Department: Establish a Department of Adult Education at all levels of implementation.

These resolutions reflect the long‑standing collaboration between IAE and DVV International, and hold clear potential to take Adult Education to the next level – scaling CLCs, opening inclusive pathways, and strengthening governance so policy lives in practice.

Looking ahead

With IAE as the anchor institution and DVV International as a committed partner, Tanzania’s next chapter of adult and lifelong learning is poised to be more accessible, more relevant, and more transformative – moving from celebration to sustained system change.