Free and accessible education is considered a human right in Tanzania. However, enrolment of primary school-aged children has been dropping. But only about 76% of Tanzanians are literate. Almost 70 per cent of children aged 14–17 years are not enrolled in secondary education.

School-going children often do not achieve foundational learning outcomes such as literacy, numeracy and life skills, which determine future performance. Girls, the poorest children, children with disabilities and children living in underserved communities are most vulnerable to dropping out of school or never going to school.