Languages in Tanzania

Formal language learning is strongest in the education system. Pre-primary and primary education generally uses Kiswahili as the teaching language, while English is taught as a subject or foreign language, with some English-medium exceptions. From Lower Secondary Form 1 to Form 4, English generally becomes the teaching language, while Kiswahili and additional languages remain language subjects. Tanzanian Sign Language (TSL), tactile sign language and Braille are included in education policy, although provision depends on the school and available resources. The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) administers national examinations. The Primary School Leaving Examination includes Kiswahili and English Language. The Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) includes Kiswahili and English Language among its core subjects, while French Language and Arabic Language can be selected. The Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) includes the KLF combination of Kiswahili, English Language and French. CSEE examinations usually take place in the first week of November and ACSEE examinations in the first week of May. Students normally access these examinations through registered schools, while private-candidate routes can also exist for CSEE and ACSEE. Adults use a more fragmented range of providers. The University of Dar es Salaam Institute of Kiswahili Studies offers beginner, intermediate and advanced Kiswahili courses covering reading, listening, writing, speaking and culture, either face to face or virtually. The UDSM Confucius Institute offers Chinese Basic 1 and 2 and Intermediate 1 and 2 courses, generally in two-month periods for learners aged 14 or older. Goethe-Institut Tanzania offers German from A1 to C2, including in-person, online and company courses. Alliance Française Dar es Salaam offers French from A1 to C2 and prepares learners for DELF-DALF, TEF and TCF examinations. British Council Tanzania provides English courses, IELTS preparation and IELTS testing. Costs vary by provider, course, learner group and location. Researched 2026 examples include approximately TZS 120,000 to 300,000 for a two-month UDSM Chinese course, TZS 800,000 for a six-week Goethe A1 course, and about TZS 400,000 to 550,000 for the listed Goethe A1-A2 examination routes. British Council IELTS fees are TZS 902,000 for Academic or General, TZS 968,000 for UKVI and TZS 641,000 for Life Skills. Course fees, examination fees, identity documents, registration deadlines, travel, internet access and data may all affect the total cost. Certificates serve different purposes. IELTS Academic, General and UKVI are commonly used for higher education, work or international migration. Goethe certificates support German-related work, study and visa applications. DELF-DALF, TEF and TCF document French ability, while HSK is available through the Confucius Institute for Chinese. Tanzania does not have one nationally uniform Kiswahili certificate system based on CEFR levels; BAKITA, the National Kiswahili Council, provides language accreditation and supports standardisation, terminology, translation and interpreting. A private or international certificate is accepted according to the requirements of the institution, employer or authority that requests it. MoEST, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, sets national education policy and curricula on Mainland Tanzania. The Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) develops curricula and learning materials and provides resources through TIE Online School. Zanzibar has its own Ministry of Education, so Mainland rules and sources should not automatically be applied there. Digital options include official secondary-school resources, virtual Kiswahili courses, online Goethe courses, British Council preparation and local services such as Kiswanglish and Mtandao Academy. Device access, internet coverage, data costs and regional availability can limit their practical use.