MOROGORO, TANZANIA – A new era of education journalism has launched in Tanzania as 17 mid-career and senior journalists from the Mainland and Zanzibar began the inaugural ALiVE Education Reporting Fellowship (AERF). The initiative, a strategic partnership between the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and Uwezo Tanzania, aims to bridge national media coverage from basic enrollment statistics toward evidence-based reporting on essential life skills and values.
The fellowship officially kicked off with a three-day intensive workshop at the Morogoro Hotel, running from March 12 to 14, 2026.
A “System Shift” in Education Coverage: The program addresses a critical “Learning Crisis” identified through ALiVE assessment data. Baraka Mgohamwende, Executive Director of Uwezo Tanzania, emphasized the urgent need for journalists to use this evidence to inform the public.
Supporting this vision, MCT Executive Secretary Ernest Sungura framed the fellowship as a “Professional Shift”. He noted that the program is designed to move media professionals beyond general reporting toward specialized, ethical, and high-quality journalism that serves the true public interest.
It is Cutting-Edge Tools for Impact: The AERF curriculum integrates technical education expertise with modern journalistic methods, which include: 1) Evidence-Based Foundations: Experts Dr. Daniel Marandu and Samson Sitta provided deep dives into the revised national curriculum and ALiVE assessment findings. 2) The QQI Model: Dastan R. Kamanzi, Director of the Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF), introduced “Tija” (Impact) Journalism, focusing on Quality, Quantity, and Impact to ensure stories drive real-world results.
Others are: 3) AI Integration: To navigate complex data, fellows are receiving practical training on Human AI (HAI) tools to enhance research precision, and 4) Quality Assurance: Led by MCT’s Esther Mkanza, the program includes continuous monitoring to align reporting with long-term impact goals.
From Theory to Fieldwork approach: The launch concludes with a “Deep Dive Media Tour” in Morogoro, where journalists will interview parents and “Community Champions” to document how local engagement is closing the gap in life skills.
Following the workshop, 12 selected participants will enter a 10-week mentorship to produce 24 high-impact stories focused on evidence-based solutions for the Tanzanian education system.
“The fellowship is designed to move media professionals from general reporting to a specialized ‘Professional Shift’ that serves the public interest.” – Ernest Sungura, MCT.