Ubongo and Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology Explore New Opportunities for Collaboration

On October 10, 2024, we were honored to host key representatives from Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST) at our Dar es Salaam headquarters for a day of insightful discussions. This engagement marked a significant step toward building a collaborative relationship aimed at expanding educational access and enhancing learning experiences for children across Tanzania.

Exploring Shared Goals in Education

The meeting gave MoEST representatives a behind-the-scenes view of our content creation, delivery, and impact measurement processes. As they toured our studios and reviewed Ubongo’s educational programs, discussions centered around ten key areas for collaboration that directly align with Tanzania’s educational priorities. 

These included:

Teacher Training and Resources: Expanding teacher training to support educators in using our content to enhance classroom learning. The Ministry expressed interest in co-developing resources to make lesson planning easier and more effective, especially in rural areas.

• STEM Education and Digital Literacy: Promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills and digital literacy from an early age. MoEST is interested in partnering with us to introduce coding, robotics, and basic digital skills that align with Tanzania’s goals for a technology-driven future.
• Inclusive Learning for All Abilities: We share a commitment to making learning accessible for children with diverse needs. The Ministry praised our inclusion of characters with disabilities and expressed interest in further content adaptations to meet the needs of all learners, particularly in underserved areas.
• Last-Mile Connectivity: Bridging the gap for students in remote areas with limited internet and TV access. MoEST is keen on exploring ways to expand our reach through radio, offline resources, and community-based distribution to ensure every child, regardless of location, can access quality learning materials.

A Vision for Inclusive, Impactful Education

Our shared mission of inclusive and impactful education was evident throughout the discussions. The Ministry strongly supported our efforts to offer educational content in local languages, recognizing that culturally relevant, mother-tongue-based learning leads to better educational outcomes. The Ministry also expressed interest in our community-centered approach, which has proven effective in driving learning gains in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills across diverse regions.

A Path Forward: Establishing a Collaborative Framework

We are eager to formalize this partnership and work together toward shared educational goals. To do so, we plan to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will outline specific areas of collaboration, ensuring coordinated efforts across multiple government bodies. In the coming months, we will co-host a stakeholder workshop with MoEST, bringing together key representatives from the education sector to discuss the MoU and finalize strategic plans.

This promising collaboration has the potential to make a lasting impact on Tanzania’s education landscape by equipping teachers, empowering students, and bringing high-quality, accessible learning to all corners of the country. 

Thanks for reading!

Tamala Maerere Kateka