Tanzania explains suspension of nine UDOM education programmes

Speaking during a press conference in Dodoma yesterday, the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, said the move would not affect the overall number of students admitted to UDOM.

He explained that the suspended programmes will be revised to ensure students spend more time learning the core content of the subjects they are expected to teach, rather than concentrating primarily on teaching methodologies.

“Take, for instance, the Bachelor of Education in Science and ICT. It meant students were learning mostly education courses with limited exposure to science and ICT content. This will change,” said Prof Mkenda.

He added that students who applied for the affected courses will now be guided to take alternative programmes such as the Bachelor of Science with Education, where the focus is more on subject content.

“This means the dosage of science will increase. Students will now spend more time studying the actual subjects they will teach,” he noted.

According to the minister, UDOM has already started reaching out to students who applied for the affected programmes, offering them the option to transfer to revised courses or select one of their other listed choices.

The university, in its earlier public notice, said it was in discussions with relevant regulatory authorities and would provide updates should the situation change.

UDOM Vice Chancellor Prof Lughano Kusiluka told Mwananchi that the university is engaging all stakeholders and will issue clear guidelines once consultations are concluded.

“No one should panic. We’re working closely with the regulator, and once the process is complete, all applicants will be informed of the way forward,” he said.

While the university did not immediately disclose the reason behind the suspension, Prof Kusiluka urged for patience, stating that more details would follow once consultations were finalised.

The suspension, which comes amid the university admissions window that opened on July 16, has sparked concern among some education stakeholders. On social media, users questioned why the announcement came after students had already begun submitting applications and why the suspended programmes were still listed in the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) 2025/26 Guidebook.

“The university made a serious error. The announcement should have come before applications opened. These courses are still appearing in the TCU Guidebook,” wrote an Instagram user identified as Clever_Wenger.

In response, UDOM’s head of marketing and communications, Ms Rose Mdami, urged applicants to remain calm.

“We will issue proper guidance soon. No applicant will miss out on a course that meets their interests and qualifications,” she said.

Meanwhile, TCU Executive Secretary Prof Charles Kihampa has reminded students to verify the availability of their preferred programmes directly with universities and to rely on official information sources.

“Applicants should ensure that the programmes they apply for are still available. Given recent updates and reforms, some programmes may have been suspended or changed,” he said.

He added that applicants should consult the TCU Guidebook and visit university websites or contact institutions directly to obtain accurate and up-to-date information before submitting applications.