Tanzania urges universities to put education quality before enrolment

Tanzania’s government is telling universities to stop treating enrolment numbers as the main measure of success. Education, Science and Technology Minister Prof Adolf Mkenda said admissions must match each institution’s capacity to provide a quality education.

“We have asked them to admit students at a level that will not compromise the quality of education. We need quality education and standards, not large numbers of students who ultimately produce unsatisfactory results,” Mkenda said.

He spoke in Dodoma on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at a joint meeting attended by the ministry, university vice chancellors and chairpersons of university councils. The meeting focused on strengthening higher education quality while keeping admissions within institutional capacity.

Mkenda said universities should concentrate on producing graduates who meet international standards, rather than expanding their student numbers at the expense of academic standards.

“

We have asked them to admit students at a level that will not compromise the quality of education. We need quality education and standards, not large numbers of students who ultimately produce unsatisfactory results.