Tanzania Education System Explained
Tanzania's education system runs pre-primary, primary and secondary school under a national curriculum set by the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE). National examinations at each stage are set and marked by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA). Matokeo publishes the CSEE and ACSEE results NECTA releases at the end of secondary school.
Pre-Primary Education
One year of pre-primary schooling, usually from age five, prepares children for Standard I. It covers early literacy and numeracy, social skills and physical development. It is compulsory in policy, but access is uneven, especially in rural areas.
Primary Education (Standard I–VII)
Primary school is free and compulsory, running seven years from Standard I to Standard VII (roughly ages 7–13). Kiswahili is the main language of instruction in the early standards, with English introduced more heavily from Standard V.
Core Subjects
- Kiswahili
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Civics and Moral Education
- Vocational Skills
Pupils sit the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) at the end of Standard VII. A PSLE pass is required to progress to secondary school (Form I).
Ordinary Secondary Education — O-Level (Form I–IV)
Four years of secondary school, Form I to Form IV, ending in the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) — the exam Matokeo's CSEE results cover.
Core Subjects
- Mathematics
- English
- Kiswahili
- Biology
- History
- Geography
- Civics
Additional Science and Elective Subjects
Depending on the school, students may also take Physics, Chemistry, Agriculture, Information and Computer Studies, Commerce, Bookkeeping, Fine Art, Music or Home Economics.
A CSEE pass, and the division it produces, determines whether a student can proceed to A-Level. See how CSEE grading and divisions work.
Advanced Secondary Education — A-Level (Form V–VI)
Two further years, Form V and Form VI, for students who passed CSEE with a division that qualifies them for A-Level. Students choose a subject combination — typically three principal subjects plus General Studies — aligned to a science, arts, business or technical stream (for example PCB, PCM, HGE or ECA).
A-Level ends in the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE). ACSEE points across the three principal subjects determine eligibility for university admission and government sponsorship. See how ACSEE grading and points work.
See it on Matokeo
Matokeo tracks CSEE and ACSEE results as NECTA releases them, so you can look up a specific school, subject or region rather than relying on dated national averages.
- CSEE Subjects — results by subject
- CSEE Schools — results by school
- How NECTA Grading Works — divisions and points explained