About Tanzania
Tanzania experiences significantly higher political and economic stability than most of Sub-Sarahan Africa, however it remains one of the poorest nations in the world. While sights such as the Serengeti, Zanzibar, and Mount Kilimanjaro draw several hundred thousand tourists per year, many Tanzanians struggle to meet basic needs such as food and shelter.   Overview  Population: 43.6 million Official Languages: Swahili and English Religious Beliefs: Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35% Area: 947,300 sq km Capital: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (commercial)
Economy Percent population below poverty line 34% Gross National Income per capita $530 Gross Domestic Product $23 billion Economic Growth Rate 6.1% Environment Landmass covered by forest 30% Mammal Species 322 Bird Species 1000+ Total Land Mass of Protected Areas 40%	Education Primary Net Enrollment 97% Secondary Net Enrollment 20% Literacy Rate 69%  Student Teacher Ratio 53:1 Health Maternal Mortality Rate 790 deaths/100,000 live births Infant Mortality Rate 66 deaths/1000 live births Life Expectancy at Birth 53 years Total Fertility Rate 4.02 children/woman
Key Dates 1880s-1919: Tanzania is a German Colony 1919: Tanzania becomes a British Trust Territory 1934: Under British rule, the first secondary school for Tanzanians opens in Tabora 1935: Education budget for entire Tanganyika amounted to (US) $ 240,000 1956: Expansion of education beyond primary school becomes a priority, due to shortage of skilled labor in Tanzania 1960: Enrollment in Form IV (11th grade) reaches 700 pupils (the estimated population at that time in Tanzania was 10.6 million people) 1961: Tanzania gains Independence from the British 1967: Pupils completing secondary school reaches 5,000 1967: The much loved President Nyerere delivers his "Arusha Declaration", outlining his version of socialism to develop the nation's economy which included system of self-reliance in locally administered villages through a villagization program structured around the ujamaa, or extended family found in traditional Africa. The strong pro-poor focus of the Arusha declaration aimed to equip Tanzanians for self-reliant rural livelihoods, based on agriculture. Nyerere aimed that the majority of people would attain primary education, with a small minority going beyond that. Mid 1970’s: funding was concentrated on primary education expansion. Secondary enrolment stagnated. 1970’s-1980’s policies restricted involvement of the private and voluntary sector in education in an effort to maintain equality and socialist principles. 1985: Socialism in Tanzania ends, and Nyerere hands over power to Ali Hassan Mwinyi 1995: First ever multi-party elections are held 2001: Government of Tanzania drops primary school fees and first grade enrollments increased by 43.1%. 2001-2002: 1.7 million extra children join the school system 2004: Government begins expanding the secondary school system under SEDP (Secondary Education Development Programme), but not fast enough to meet the demands of the first pool of graduating 7th graders in 2007 & 2008. 2007: Secondary enrollment in Tanzania is among the lowest in the world at 20%, but Government is rapidly expanding infrastructure.