„We are observing a big change. Teachers are enjoying teaching, learning motivation of the students improved, good relationship between teachers and students and the school environment also improved.“
Mwanaima Mnzava
Principal of Mandaka Secondary School, Tanzania
What does a school need? Textbooks and classrooms are certainly part of it. But the qualifications and teaching skills of the teachers are at least as important for successful learning. That is why PROBONO has been involved in teacher training since 2013 and has systematically developed an innovative training program based on existing training opportunities to improve the quality of teaching in Tanzanian schools.
The background to this is the poor exam results in secondary schools, especially in science subjects and mathematics. In addition to the lack of school infrastructure and school materials, the poor academic performance is largely due to the inadequate subject-specific and methodological-didactic qualifications of many teachers.
Our teacher training is effective: external evaluations show that teaching in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and English has improved significantly. Students participate more actively in class, ask more questions, and present their results with confidence. More than half show increased analytical thinking skills. Last but not least, learning outcomes and exam performance are also improving.
One component of PROBONO teacher training is methodology workshops that teach contemporary teaching methods. These workshops take into account the specific conditions at Tanzanian schools, such as very large class sizes. The methodology workshops follow a student-centered, participatory approach: While rote learning is still widespread in Tanzania, students are now actively involved in lessons, participating in the development of solutions and thus encouraged to think analytically and creatively.
Another component of PROBONO teacher training are subject-specific workshops for teachers of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and English. PROBONO's cooperation partner for methodological, pedagogical, and subject-specific training is Mwenge Catholic University (MWECAU) in Moshi. Following the methodology and subject workshops, university lecturers visit classrooms and hold reflection discussions at all participating schools.
In addition, investments in school infrastructure, such as the construction and equipping of laboratories for science subjects and the purchase of books and teaching materials, are part of the program.
In September 2025, the PROBONO teacher training program in Tanzania entered its third round. A total of 120 teachers from twelve Tanzanian secondary schools are participating in the four-year program. The schools are mainly located in Moshi and the surrounding area.
Support teacher training in Tanzania and help make school interesting, lessons motivating, and learning successful!
With the third round of our PROBONO Teacher Training program, we are improving teaching at twelve additional secondary schools in Moshi and the surrounding area. Over a period of four years, 120 teachers will receive further training in STEM subjects and English, science laboratories will be built, and the schools will receive books and learning materials. This will create better educational opportunities for thousands of students.
The external evaluation of PROBONO Teacher Training shows clear successes: at the twelve secondary schools participating in the program, the quality of teaching in mathematics, science, and English has improved noticeably. Student-centered methods, better-equipped laboratories, and new learning materials are resulting in more active students, improved exam performance, and greater enjoyment of the subjects.
Three new laboratories for more practical teaching: PROBONO has built three modern science laboratories at secondary schools in Mwanga, Tanzania. This is an important contribution to practical education in physics, chemistry, and biology and to strengthening science teaching.
The PROBONO Teacher Training Program (PTT) is entering its next phase: in mid-September, 120 teachers from twelve schools in Tanzania gathered for the first workshop. PTT teaches both subject-specific and methodological-didactic skills to make lessons more engaging and effective. The first round of PTT already showed that students are more motivated, participate more actively, and achieve better learning outcomes.
Working together for better teaching: At the third PROBONO methodology workshop in Moshi, teachers, school administrators, and education authorities from Tanzania spent a week working on modern teaching methods, digital media use, and child protection for sustainable change in everyday school life.
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