Arusha, July 24, 2023 – Nearly 600 postsecondary institutions in Tanzania will have an extra tool to enhance the safety and protection of young women and men against sexual and gender-based violence thanks to new guidelines developed by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) through its Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP). Announced on Saturday by the Honorable Professor Adolf Mkenda, Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania will formally adopt the Safeguarding Guidelines across public and private Folk Development Colleges (FDCs), Vocational Education Training Colleges (VETs), and Teachers Colleges (TCs) in the country.
Developed by CICan in collaboration with the Tanzania Ministry of Education Science and Technology and in consultation with Tanzania institutions, the National Safeguarding Guidelines for Folk Development Colleges and Vocational Education Training Colleges outline how institutions can prioritize the safety and well-being of students and trainees in colleges and will help institutions create a gender-responsive enabling environment to support all students and trainees, particularly women, youth, and people with disabilities. The guidelines also include implementation strategies, roles and responsibilities of those involved, as well as a guide to monitoring and evaluating success.
Despite progress in empowering women, youth, and people with disabilities in education, many in Tanzania still face challenges in successfully completing postsecondary education and achieving their highest potential, including abuse and violence in the community and at learning institutions. Successful implementation of the Safeguarding Guidelines will improve accessibility to education, student retention and completion rates, attitudes towards violence and discrimination, and knowledge of students, trainees, staff, and other stakeholders.
While the Safeguarding Guidelines were initially developed as part of ESP’s Gender Strategy and were intended for implementation in the 12 participating FDCs, implementing partners saw a need to broaden the scope to cover all 55 FDCs, over 500 VETs, and 43 TCs across Tanzania.
Funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, ESP is a seven-year $25 million program implemented by CICan in partnership with the Tanzania Ministry of Education Science and Technology, ESP supports the economic empowerment of women and adolescent girls with skills training and tailored support throughout training and their transitions to employment, self-employment, or entrepreneurship.
View the Safeguarding Guidelines.
Quotes:
“We are immensely proud of this achievement that will have such a profound impact in the lives of young women and girls. Implementing the guidelines at the national level means even more students will be able to achieve their potential and more communities across Tanzania will have the tools to create positive change. The guidelines will contribute immeasurably to Sustainable Development Goal 4 Quality Education in Tanzania.”
Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada
About Colleges and Institutes Canada
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the national and international voice of Canada’s largest post-secondary education network. It advocates, builds capacity, and drives knowledge to strengthen Canada’s publicly supported colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, and polytechnics. With more than 95% of Canadians living within 50 km of a member institution, and thanks to its extensive reach around the globe, CICan works to future-proof communities in Canada and abroad.
We respectfully acknowledge that CICan’s offices in Ottawa are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation.
