CHAPTER FOUR: POLICY FRAMEWORKS IN ZSEP

CHAPTER FOUR: POLICY FRAMEWORKS IN ZSEP

4.1 Administrative and Regulatory Frameworks in Education

The ZSEP will only operate in the Isles. Under the constitution, Zanzibar enjoys a certain degree of autonomy including an autonomous Ministry of Education and Vocational Training for governance of matters on education. This is the institution that will take charge of implementation of the ZSEP. Implementation of the project will be carried out through the existing structures of the MoEVT, involving its different departments, district education boards and education institutions.

Administratively, Zanzibar is divided into 5 Regions and 10 districts. Delivery of services in education within the Isles is effected through the 10 districts each of which has a District Education Officer charged with responsibility of overseeing activities of the 10 Departments.

For the past three decades, the policy of education in Zanzibar was guided by the declaration of compulsory and free basic education for all. The Eucation Act No.6 of (amended in 1993) provides the overall policy orientation of the sector. Although education was declared free, community and individual contributions are encouraged and contribute much in the construction of classrooms. Supply of school stationery's and private cost of schooling is the responsibility of parents. The policy of education has also been guided by international declarations and conventions such as:-

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  Millennium Development Goals for Education
  
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  Jomtien Declaration on Education for All (EFA) in the year 2000
  
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  The convention on Children's Rights (CRC).
  
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  Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against women (CEDAW).
  

These global commitments aims at empowering the poor including the women to pursue their fundamental human rights, such as education, development and protection. As part of her commitment to these conventions and to providing basic education, Zanzibar has adopted the following policy and legislative tools;-

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  The Zanzibar Education Act of 1982 (amended in 1993) which defined the right to education for every citizen and legalized basic education as free and compulsory.
  

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  Zanzibar Education policy of 1991 (amended in 1995) with specific objectives of ensuring that all eligible children were enrolled into and were attending school, provision of good and relevant quality education and provide equal educational opportunities.
  

Towards implementation of the Education Policy, the RGZ produced in 1996, the Zanzibar Education Master Pan (ZEMAP) for the next ten years. ZEMAP identified objectives and programs addressing access, equity, quality and relevance for basic education that would position Zanzibaris to productively enter the 21st century. It recognized that the RGZ budget provision to education could not meet the objectives alone and called on the community and civil sector to be partners with the government in this enterprise. It also called on external organizations to partner with the GOZ and civil society in the provision of needed contributions to assist it to meet its goals.