TAARIFA KWA UMMA KUHUSU USAILI WA WALIMU

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

Public Service Recruitment Secretariat

P.O. Box 2320, Dodoma

Dodoma, 19th February 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING THE TEACHER RECRUITMENT PROCESS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Due to ongoing misinformation circulating through various channels, including social media, regarding the ongoing teacher recruitment process across all regions in the country, the President’s Office, Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, has deemed it necessary to provide clarification on this matter.

The President’s Office, Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, was established as part of the implementation of the Employment and Management Policy in the Public Service, under section 4.2(ii)(iii), which directs that: Competitive recruitment should be conducted for entry-level positions in the public service structure; and a recruitment body within the Public Service should be established to handle and oversee the acquisition of various professionals. To facilitate the implementation of this policy, Section 29(1) of the Public Service Act, Chapter 298, mandates the existence of a special body to handle the recruitment process in the Public Service. The Operational Guidelines of the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat for the year 2021, issued through Government Notice No. 580 of 2022, are the guidelines followed in the execution of its duties.

Additionally, the Education and Training Policy of 2014, 2023 Edition, under section 3.12.1.5, directs that: The Government will strengthen the teacher recruitment system, ensuring that qualified and competent individuals are employed after passing examinations and interviews as part of the selection process.

2.0 OBJECTIVE OF ESTABLISHING THE RECRUITMENT SECRETARIAT

The primary objective of establishing the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat is to enable Recruitment Authorities to fulfill their core responsibilities as outlined in the guidelines for the establishment of these institutions (Instruments).

3.0 THE REGULATED RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The recruitment process in the Public Service is conducted by the Recruitment Secretariat on behalf of recruitment authorities within the Public Service, which include: Ministries, Independent Departments, Regional Secretariats, Government Agencies; Local Government Authorities; and Public Institutions and Organizations.

The law establishing the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat clearly defines the scope of responsibilities, where all recruitments related to: the Parliamentary Sector; the Judiciary Sector; and Defense and Security Institutions continue to be managed by these sectors and institutions, thus not involving the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat.

Furthermore, Section 29(A)(1) of the Public Service Act, to meet government needs, empowers the Secretary of the Recruitment Secretariat to delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer or Local Government Authorities to conduct the recruitment process. The law also empowers the Secretary of the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat to take on responsibilities delegated to other institutions as deemed appropriate.

Currently, the Secretary of the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat has delegated the authority to coordinate the recruitment process to various public institutions, including the Bank of Tanzania (BOT); Local Government Authorities for Grade 23; and Public Universities for professional cadres. These institutions, when conducting the recruitment process, closely involve the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat to ensure that the procedures related to the recruitment process are followed correctly.

5.0 PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING JOB ADVERTISEMENTS

After receiving recruitment approvals and analyzing them in consultation with employers, the Recruitment Secretariat prepares and issues job advertisements through its website (www.ajira.go.tz). It also uses official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, and WhatsApp channels.

The Recruitment Secretariat, through TEHAMA, has also developed a Mobile Application “Ajira Portal Mobile App” for users of Android and iOS devices, which notifies job seekers about available job opportunities. Additionally, applicants registered on the USSD Digital System receive notifications about job opportunities through their mobile phones. However, for a job seeker to receive job notifications, they must register by dialing 15200# and following the instructions.

The use of the TEHAMA system has improved service delivery and reduced costs for the government and job seekers, unlike the previous system that relied on newspapers, radio, and television for advertisements and calling applicants for interviews. Those advertisements also did not reach all stakeholders on time.

6.0 PROCEDURE FOR RECEIVING JOB APPLICATIONS

Job applications from job seekers are received through TEHAMA using the Ajira Portal Digital System, which allows applicants to submit their job applications from anywhere digitally (Online Application). This system provides instant feedback on whether the application has been received or not. Unlike in the past, when applications were received through postal mail.

7.0 PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING JOB APPLICATIONS

The processing of job applications submitted by job seekers is done digitally immediately after the job advertisement period ends. After this step, officers from the Recruitment Secretariat match the information submitted by applicants with the qualifications specified in the job advertisement to obtain a shortlist of those who meet the criteria and are recommended for further interview stages.

8.0 INTERVIEW PROCEDURE

The Public Service Recruitment Secretariat conducts interviews through three (3) methods. This is in accordance with the Operational Guidelines of the Recruitment Secretariat for the year 2021. This procedure considers the requirements of the cadre and the position to be filled as follows:

8.1 Written Interview (Aptitude Test)

This is a written interview conducted to screen and select all qualified applicants when the number of applicants exceeds the available positions. This procedure provides an opportunity for all qualified applicants to compete for positions in the next stage.

8.2 Practical Interview

A practical interview is conducted for certain cadres such as Drivers; Special Secretaries; TEHAMA professionals; and other cadres with similar requirements. The aim is to assess the ability and skills in performing tasks in the relevant field.

8.3 Oral Interview

The oral interview is the final stage of screening candidates to select those suitable for employment in the Public Service.

9.0 DELEGATION OF RECRUITMENT AUTHORITY TO SOME MINISTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

When the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat began its operations in 2010, the Secretary of the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat delegated the authority to recruit staff in the health, education, livestock, agriculture, and accounting cadres to sectoral ministries. This decision was due to the shortage of professionals in these cadres in the job market at that time and thus the lack of reasons to subject them to competition. However, due to the increase in professionals in these cadres in the job market currently, the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, after consulting with the President’s Office, Public Service Management, and Good Governance overseeing the Employment and Management Policy in the Public Service and other recruitment authorities, has been gradually reclaiming the recruitment authority previously delegated to these ministries and institutions to allow competition as is the case with other professional cadres.

10.0 TEACHER CADRE INTERVIEWS

The interview process for filling 14,648 teaching positions provided by Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, with the aim of reducing the shortage of teachers in the country, began on 14th January 2025 and is expected to be completed by 24th February 2025 in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. As of 18th February 2025, a total of 6,055 teachers who have undergone interviews and passed have been assigned to various workstations across the country after completing their recruitment process.

To ensure transparency, the teacher cadre interviews are conducted in collaboration with leaders from the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat; the President’s Office (Public Service); the President’s Office (TAMISEMI); the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology; the Teachers’ Service Commission; other Public Institutions; and Regional Commissioners’ Offices nationwide. Additionally, professionals involved in the verification of interview tests and those participating in interview panels have been coordinated by the Secretary of the Recruitment Secretariat through Regional Commissioners’ Offices under the coordination of Regional Administrative Secretaries.

The results of the teacher cadre interviews have been entered into the digital Ajira Portal system immediately after the completion of interviews at the respective stations in all regions nationwide. This task is overseen by teams of leaders from the Headquarters in Dodoma and Regional Commissioners’ Offices. Candidates who performed well in these interviews have been given the opportunity to be employed, and those who passed but did not secure positions will have their names retained in the Recruitment Secretariat’s database for a period of one year. Based on this, if the government issues recruitment approvals or job positions become available due to various reasons, they will be assigned to workstations without having to repeat the interview process.

Therefore, the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat would like to remind those spreading misleading information about the ongoing teacher recruitment process across the country to cease such misinformation. We also urge all stakeholders to ignore such misinformation as the aim of this process is to obtain a competent and skilled teaching workforce that will contribute to achieving our national development goals under the Vision 2050. This is also part of the implementation of the Employment and Management Policy in the Public Service of 2008, 2nd Edition, and the Education and Training Policy of 2014, 2023 Edition.

Finally, we urge all qualified job seekers in the Public Service, including teachers, to prepare well before interviews, be confident, and participate in interviews to succeed and be assigned to workstations as job opportunities arise. The President’s Office, Public Service Recruitment Secretariat, assures job seekers that the recruitment process under this office is conducted in accordance with the law, regulations, and procedures of the country without any bribes or favoritism. Additionally, as our important stakeholders, we urge you to provide us with information whenever you notice any shortcomings, including unethical practices, so that we, in collaboration with other government bodies, can take appropriate action in a timely manner and further improve our services.

Lynn Chawala
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS