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VVOB and ADEM Partner to Strengthen School Leadership across Tanzania

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Colleauges from VVOB and ADEM pose for a signing agreement

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Tuesday, 19 August 2025 | Bagamoyo, Tanzania – VVOB – education for development and the Agency for the Development of Educational Management (ADEM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the professional development of school leaders in Tanzania. This partnership forms a key part of a wider initiative with collaborators to transform school leadership and outcomes across Africa, coordinated by the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL).

In close collaboration with Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), VVOB and ADEM will roll out a certified blended learning programme for school and education leaders, combining face-to-face sessions with online modules. The initiative will be implemented across 6,000 secondary schools in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar and is expected to impact more than 2.8 million learners. Through this programme, school heads and education officers will develop the leadership and coaching skills necessary to improve teaching and learning outcomes in their schools, in line with the ongoing competency-based curriculum reform.

Formal training is one of the pedagogical areas that can significantly improve teaching outcomes by ensuring strong school leadership in Tanzania. ADEM, the government institution, will embed the new training into its professional course offerings, aligning with national leadership standards and appointment requirements. 

Reflecting on the significance of the partnership between VVOB and ADEM, Koenraad Van Den Steen, Global Director of Finance at VVOB, shared: “Together with ADEM, we will build a strong system of school leadership and management, ensuring that every student receives quality education.” 

The ACSL, a pan-African coalition between VVOB, the Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Education Sub-Saharan Africa (ESSA), and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), will have a coordination role throughout the implementation of the programme, while VVOB and ADEM will deliver a school leadership professional development programme. 

Speaking on behalf of ADEM, the Chief Executive Dr. Maulid J. Maulid said: “This partnership marks a milestone in our national efforts to professionalise school leadership. By providing secondary school leaders with structured, high-quality training aligned with national priorities, we are laying a foundation for sustainable improvement of teaching and learning. We are proud to work with VVOB and other partners in ensuring that every Tanzanian learner is guided by empowered, competent and visionary school leaders.”