Desks for Public Schools

The education sector in Tanzania has been growing rapidly in the recent years. According to UNICEF, the net primary school enrolment rate shot up by 94 per cent, a drastic growth mainly occasioned by the elimination of primary school fees in 2001 coupled with the instruction from the government which requires all children of school age to be enrolled in primary schools accordingly.

This achievement has resulted to several challenges inclusive of desks deficiency, “statistics have shown that Tanzania needs about 3.3 million desks for primary schools while the available ones are only 1.8 million. We therefore have a deficit of 1.5 million desks,” according to the former Mizengo Pinda. Such underlying challenges has necessitated a call for action, hence, the fifth phase government under the leadership of President John Pombe Magufuli has expressed its commitment in lifting all students off the floor by equipping classrooms with desks and improve quality of education. 

In support of the President bold decision while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goal number 4 which demand all nations to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning, Tigo embarked into a project dubbed Desks for Public Schools. In 2015 alone we donated 2,000 desks in various primary schools benefitting 6,000 pupils across the country. This initiative continued in 2016 in parallel with Tigo FIESTA 2016 season where 5,700 desks will be donated across the country before year end to lift more than 17,000 off the floor.