Tanzania School Closures After Election Crackdown
Recent Developments
012026-03-19: Human Rights Watch reported that Tanzanian security forces killed and injured bystanders during and after the disputed 2025 elections, documenting 31 non-protester deaths and credible information on 19 additional deaths; HRW said hundreds may have been killed nationwide.
02Late October 2025: protests spread in Dar es Salaam and other cities after the election, and reporting described a nationwide lockdown, military deployment, and closures of schools and universities.
03April 2026: a government-appointed commission reportedly published a report stating that 518 people were killed during the protests.
Interventions
- Government-appointed commission report on the post-election violence, published in April 2026, which at least provides an official accounting of deaths, though the available reporting does not indicate a school-reopening plan.
- International human-rights monitoring and advocacy by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International calling for accountability and independent investigation into the killings and abuses.
What Works
- Rapid reopening of schools with clear safety guarantees and transport access can reduce prolonged learning loss after crises, especially when paired with temporary catch-up instruction.
- Psychosocial support and accelerated learning programs help students recover after conflict-related disruption and have been widely used in emergency education responses.
How to Help
- Support reputable organizations providing emergency education, child protection, and psychosocial aid in Tanzania.
- Advocate for safe school reopening, restraint on security-force abuses, and independent investigation into the post-election violence.
- Donate to education-in-emergencies and human-rights organizations monitoring the impact on children and families.
Make an Impact
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Verified Organizations
Organizations Helping(5)
HakiElimu works on education advocacy, public accountability, and rights-based engagement to improve the quality and continuity of education in Tanzania. In a crisis where schools are closed or access is restricted, this kind of organization can push for government accountability, public communication, and policies that protect learners’ access to schooling and reduce long-term harm from interruptions.
Tanzania School Trust supports a school that provides education and daily meals, helping children remain enrolled and stable. While its core work is not crisis-response messaging, its model addresses the practical risks that school closures and instability create: lost instruction, hunger, and dropout risk. By funding school operations, salaries, rent, and meals, it helps maintain continuity for vulnerable children when families face disruption.
Save the Children Tanzania supports education continuity through work with government and community structures, including emergency education support for refugee and crisis-affected children. Their Tanzania education program focuses on safe and inclusive schooling, girls’ education, early childhood development, technology-enabled learning, and teacher support. In emergencies, they provide learning opportunities and strengthen teacher capacity through face-to-face and digital training, which is directly relevant when unrest or security crackdowns disrupt schooling and force closures.
TEN/MET works by coordinating a large network of education-focused civil society organizations and advocating for equitable, quality education policy and practice in Tanzania. In the context of school closures and unrest, its role is to amplify civil society voices, influence education policy responses, and support coordinated action among member organizations so children can continue learning and the education system can recover more quickly after disruptions.
