Read more about our work in Tanzania.
We Support Education for Deaf Children in Tanzania
Kentalis International Foundation has been working in Tanzania since 2016 with the goal to improve access to and the quality of ducation for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Since 2016, we have a strong partnership with the Organization of Special Needs Education Teachers (OSNET), a network organization in Tanzania working on supporting special needs education teachers across the country. We have, among other things, worked together on establishing sign language clubs at secondary schools in Tanzania. Kentalis International Foundation specifically provided regular and special needs education workshops and training to school management and teachers.
Our Mission in Tanzania
The National Strategy for Inclusive Education in Tanzania has seen a significant increase (30%) in the identification of children with hearing loss entering the school system since 2009. These children are placed in both regular classes and specialized units within primary schools, creating a need for teachers with both general and specialized training.
However, there are significant challenges. There is a critical shortage of special education teachers, with only one qualified teacher for every 100 regular classroom teachers. Regular teachers, accustomed to large classes (more than 50 students) and demanding workloads (40 hours per week), often lack the necessary knowledge to effectively support learners who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Although Tanzania offers special education programs, the number of graduates remains insufficient. On average, there are only two qualified special education teachers per school serving students with hearing loss. Even special education teachers often lack specific techniques and methods to fully integrate these students, creating a barrier to providing a truly supportive learning environment with full access to the curriculum.
A recent survey by OSNET in 2024 highlighted this concern, with an overwhelming 86% of regular teachers feeling unprepared. Continuing education (such as in weekends or holidays) in inclusive deaf education for both special and regular teachers is not easily accessible and is rarely organized. Teachers are often overburdened during the school year and even during vacations, leaving little time for effective skills training. These skills range from screening schoolchildren for hearing loss to effective referrals, teaching techniques used by regular teachers, and more specialized methods for special education teachers using sign language. However, access to professional development and a platform for sharing best practices among the community of special and inclusive education teachers is currently lacking in Tanzania. That is why we work on providing such professional development for teachers in Tanzania, with the goal to remove barriers to quality education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Examples of Our Activities in Tanzania
In our projects in Tanzania, we have, among other things, focused on establishing sign language clubs at secondary schools and on early literacy development for deaf children.
Multiplying learning opportunities for Tanzanian teachers
Early 2025, Kentalis International Foundation, in partnership with OSNET, started a project to further collaborate on improving quality education for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners in Tanzania in primary and secondary schools and early childhood education, and on the capacity building of teachers. The first phase of this project focuses on capacity building of teachers through the Reading Method for Early Literacy (RMEL).
Project Overview
- 10+ teachers trained through e-learning courses and on-location training in Tanzania
- The Reading Method for Early Literacy training materials are being translated to Swahili
- The project is still ongoing and more updates will follow soon!
Future Directions and Collaboration
With our sustainable partnership with local organzation OSNET, we look forward to continuing our collaboratieve efforts in Tanzania.
We invite other organizations and educational institutions to join us in our mission to enhance education for deaf learners in Tanzania. Together, we can break down communication barriers and create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment for all children.
For inquiries about our work in Tanzania or other countries, please contact us. If you are an organization interested in supporting education for deaf learners, find more information about partnering with us.
Photos by Innocent Kisheo