Tanzania Government Responds to Teacher Recruitment Allegations

Government Responds to Allegations of Teacher Recruitment Corruption

Dodoma, February 20, 2025 – Allegations of favoritism and corruption in the ongoing teacher recruitment process have stirred a response from the government, which has denied the accusations. The informal group known as 'Neto'—composed of unemployed teachers who have been seeking employment from 2015 to 2023—has raised concerns regarding the ongoing teacher recruitment exams. However, the government maintains that the claims are misleading.

The allegations from Neto revolve around the ongoing recruitment process for 14,648 teaching positions, which were announced by the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat. Lynn Chawala, the Public Relations Officer of the Recruitment Secretariat, responded to the claims in a public statement on February 19, 2025. She clarified that the teacher recruitment process, aimed at addressing the national teacher shortage, began on January 14, 2025, and is expected to be concluded by February 24, 2025, both in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

"By February 18, 2025, a total of 6,055 teachers who successfully passed the exams have been assigned to various teaching positions across the country," Chawala stated.

In the government’s effort to ensure transparency, Chawala emphasized that the teacher recruitment process is managed with the collaboration of multiple bodies, including the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, the Office of the President (Public Service), the Office of the President (TAMISEMI), the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Teachers' Service Commission, and other public institutions across the country.

Addressing the allegations of favoritism, the statement explained that the process of correcting examination results and overseeing recruitment panels has been coordinated by regional authorities under the guidance of the Regional Administrative Secretaries.

“Exam results are entered into the digital Employment Portal after completion of the recruitment process in all regions,” Chawala added.

For those who successfully passed the exams, the government has assured that the names of candidates who were successful and assigned to positions will remain in the system. Those who were successful but did not secure a position will have their details retained in the Recruitment Secretariat's database for a year, with the possibility of future placement.

Chawala concluded by urging all stakeholders to disregard the misleading information and emphasized that the recruitment process is designed to hire qualified and competent teachers who will contribute to the achievement of Tanzania’s 2050 National Development Vision.

In total, 201,707 applicants vied for the 14,648 teaching positions that are currently under review.