By Mutayoba Arbogast
Teachers at Mutukula Secondary School in Missenyi District have received a TZS 10 million incentive from parents and stakeholders in recognition of the school’s outstanding performance in the 2025 Form Four National Examinations.
The cash reward was presented during a parents’ meeting held on February 16, 2026, celebrating a flawless performance: all 124 candidates passed. Of these, 26 earned Division I, 68 secured Division II, and 30 attained Division III—without a single Division IV or failure.
According to Acting District Officer for Secondary Schools, Pancrace Ishengoma, Mutukula Secondary School ranked first among 25 government secondary schools in Missenyi District and fourth among 31 schools, including private institutions.
The achievement marks a remarkable turnaround for a ward-level institution established under the Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP) during the third-phase government of President Benjamin Mkapa, spearheaded by then–Prime Minister Edward Lowassa.
Launched to expand access to secondary education and bring schools closer to communities, SEDP increased the number of secondary schools nationwide from 1,290 in 2004 to 4,370 by 2011. Ordinary Level (O-Level) enrollment surged by 325 percent, while the net enrollment ratio jumped from 12.4 percent to 50.2 percent.
However, the rapid expansion also exposed quality challenges. Form Four failure rates rose sharply—from 9.7 percent in 2007 to 56.2 percent by 2012—triggering intense media scrutiny and parliamentary debate over infrastructure gaps, teacher shortages, and limited learning resources.
Against that backdrop, Mutukula Secondary’s recent success signals a shift in fortunes for ward-based public schools.
“These once-despised schools are now proving doubters wrong,” said Head of School Mutalemwa Makwabe, attributing the turnaround to sustained government reforms, teacher commitment, and strong community backing.
Mutukula Ward Councilor Kiiza Zackaria commended parents for their collective effort, particularly Mr. Joseph Nyasi Cosma, agribusiness entrepreneur Mr. Evance Kamenge, and Bunazi Green Acres Primary School Director Jacklyne Rushaigo, for mobilizing support.
“Thank you for this motivation—we promise to sustain and protect this success,” the headmaster pledged.
