STRENGTHENING TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP (STPDM)

Low quality of basic education is perceived as one of the core challenges, which is strongly based on the neglection of quality teacher education and training and strained budgets for education. To enhance quality, the project supports the Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to spread and advocate for the Inclusive School based In-service Teacher Training (SITT).

SITT has evolved from the earlier Quality Education through the Expert Teacher System (QUEETS) initiative. Since 2016, SITT has generated other 3 Research-based projects: Strengthening Inservice Teacher Mentorship and Support (STMS), Strengthening Teacher Professional Development and Mentorship (STPDM) and Teacher Professional Development at Scale: Leveraging Teachers’ Perspectives for Success (TPDS: LTPS) which are action research projects where Helvetas works with various renown Universities.

Project Goal: Enhancing Primary school teachers’ professional development by generating and improving teaching and learning through a well-functioning inclusive school-based in-service teacher training (SITT) model, for more effective teaching, empowered pupils, and a better basic education for Tanzania, Kenya and South Sudan.

Project Direct Beneficiaries: The project aims to build the capacity of 140 teachers(female 91 & male 49) from 35 primary schools on Mathematics, Science integrating ICT and Life Skills using SITT innovation expecting to benefit more than 34,237 pupils (girls 17,180 & boys 17,05) from 35 public primary schools through trained 28 tutors from 7 teacher colleges that as well benefits about 3,200 student-teachers.

Project Partners:Local Partners are Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Prime Minister’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government,  LGAs, TCs, Secondary and Primary schools, TTU,  TEN/MET, DUCE.

Internationa Partners: International Partners: Kibabii University of Kenya and University of Juba South Sudan.

TRACKING PROGRESS AND IMPACT: A FRAMEWORK FOR THE SITT PROJECT

A Decade of Transformative Teacher Training: Since 2012, the QUEETS program, in collaboration with the Teacher Training University (TTU), has built a powerful and sustainable infrastructure for educational change in Tanzania. The initiative has established a comprehensive Expert Teacher Training System that has reached 1,480 public primary schools across the country. This success has been driven by the training of 1,900 Expert Teachers, with 250 receiving refresher training to stay current with innovative practices. To ensure the system's long-term viability, 75 National Facilitators were trained, with 60 retrained to lead and mentor others. This cascading model of training has amplified the program's reach, ensuring that its benefits extend far beyond the initial cohort of educators.

Reaching the Heart of Education: The impact of QUEETS is felt directly in classrooms and school communities. By training 580 Headteachers and 10,000 teachers, the project has fundamentally changed the culture of teaching and learning in thousands of Tanzanian schools. This large-scale intervention is now benefiting an estimated population of 718,000 pupils, creating more interactive, engaging, and effective learning environments. The structured, school-based approach allows teachers to apply new, learner-centered methodologies in their classrooms, fostering a love of learning and improving student performance in core subjects.

Proven Results and a Solid Foundation for the Future: The success of the QUEETS program is demonstrated through concrete and measurable outcomes. A baseline study was completed to establish a clear starting point for measuring progress. This data has since confirmed a remarkable 40% increase in student performance in Mathematics, English Language, and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in schools where QUEETS is implementing its activities. This significant achievement validates the program's methodology, proving that strategic investment in teacher professional development is the most effective pathway to improving the quality of education and unlocking the potential of Tanzania's future generations.