Tanzania’s Education Sector Struggles with Professor Shortage: Government Seeks International Expertise

By Adonis Byemelwa

In a stark admission highlighting a critical issue facing Tanzania's education sector, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Professor Carolyne Nombo, has sounded the alarm on the severe shortage of lecturers plaguing the nation's universities.

As the government scrambles to fill this glaring gap, Nombo emphasized that urgent and innovative solutions are needed to ensure the quality of higher education and research is not compromised.

Speaking at the launch of the 12th Scientific Conference at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Muhas) at the Mloganzila campus on June 27, 2024, she outlined the government's efforts to address this pressing issue, including bringing in experts from abroad.

“There is indeed a shortage, and the government is implementing various efforts to reduce this gap. This shortage will decrease through the ‘internationalization’ of teachers and other experts from different countries who will come to collaborate with us in providing education and conducting research,” stated Professor Nombo.

Addressing this challenge head-on, the government is turning to international expertise to bolster the ranks of educators and researchers, showcasing a determined effort to elevate Tanzania’s academic standards to global levels.

While she did not provide specific figures on the shortfall, Professor Nombo emphasized that the government has already issued employment permits for the necessary staff to ensure that the shortage does not impact the quality of education and research.

The 2017 report by the Tanzania Higher Learning Institutions Trade Union (THTU) highlighted a 44% shortage of academic staff in higher education institutions. Additionally, it revealed that 53% of senior staff teaching in universities were retired and working on contract.

In May 2024, Special Seats MP Dr. Tea Ntala raised the issue in Parliament, stating that there are currently 93 professors in the country, whereas universities need 516. She suggested extending the retirement age for professors and increasing recruitment from abroad. Although she did not cite her sources, her concerns reflect a broader issue facing the Tanzanian education system.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Tanzania had 226 professors in 2022, including 163 associate professors and 63 full professors.

The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) reported that as of 2020, there were 7,187 lecturers in higher education institutions, with 4,863 in public universities and 2,324 in private ones. Among them, 5,088 were male and 2,099 females.

Enrollment of students has been increasing at an average rate of 4.7% per year, from 177,963 in the 2017/18 academic year to 206,305 in 2020/21. Former TCU Executive Secretary, Professor Sifuni Mchome, noted that ideally, one teacher should instruct 20 social science students, 10 engineering students, and five medical students.

During the conference, Professor Nombo urged researchers to propose new approaches to tackle non-communicable diseases, including mental health, aging, accidents, diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer.

 She also called for recommendations on how to build and strengthen ethics among health service providers and the use of technology, especially artificial intelligence.

“Muhas, in collaboration with the government, is in the process of establishing additional centers of excellence at the Mloganzila campus, including the second phase of the Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Diseases and the Center of Excellence for Oral Health Diseases. These infrastructures will enable Muhas to be a hub for specialized health and allied sciences training,” she added.

Muhas Council Chairman, Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe, noted that this year's conference is special as it commemorates the first Chancellor of the university, the late Ali Hassan Mwinyi. He highlighted the importance of the conference for researchers to provide solutions to various health challenges.

Muhas Vice-Chancellor, Professor Appolinary Kamuhabwa, affirmed the university's commitment to being a national leader in health research, policy support, and guidelines. “So far, the university has 150 funded research projects, collaborates with over 100 local and international institutions, and produces between 450 and 500 scientific publications in reputable journals annually,” he said.

Muhas researcher Dr. Edward Mhina presented findings on the tendency of pregnant women to self-medicate, mainly due to the proximity of drugs and the long wait times at hospitals. He recommended that the government strengthen efforts to control the unregulated use of medications.

To address the shortage of professors, developed nations have implemented various strategies that Tanzania could emulate. Countries like Germany, Canada, and the United States have robust systems for recruiting and retaining academic talent.

Germany, for example, has initiatives like the Humboldt Professorship, which attracts top international researchers by offering substantial funding and resources.

The United States provides a conducive environment for research through well-funded grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), which also support postdoctoral positions that feed into the academic pipeline.

Canada's approach includes the Canada Research Chairs Program, which helps universities attract and retain top researchers. These chairs are split into two categories: Tier 1, which is for outstanding researchers recognized by their peers as world leaders, and Tier 2, for exceptional emerging researchers.

Likewise, many universities in these countries offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits packages, and ample research funding to make academic positions attractive. They also invest in professional development and mentorship programs to support young academics in their career progression. These strategies not only help fill immediate gaps but also ensure a sustainable pipeline of academic talent.

By learning from these international examples and adapting their best practices, Tanzania could significantly mitigate its current shortage of academic staff, ensuring a stronger and more resilient higher education sector.