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Education Sector
In 1996, the Government of Zanzibar (GOZ) produced the Zanzibar Education Master Pan (ZEMAP) for the next ten years in response to the Declaration on Education for All. ZEMAP identified objectives and programs addressing access, equity, quality and relevance for basic education that would position Zanzibaris to productively enter the 21st century. It recognized that the GOZ budget could not meet the objectives alone and called on the community and civil sector to be partners with the government in this enterprise. It also called on external organizations to partner with the GOZ and civil society in the provision of needed contributions to assist it to meet its goals.

In 2000, the GOZ released Vision 2020, a comprehensive statement of objectives for the whole country in all sectors that reinforced the objectives of ZEMAP. The Zanzibar Poverty Reduction Plan (ZPRP) was develop to serve as a strategy for implementation of Vision 2020, and further delineated the needs of the Education sector. In 2002, the Zanzibar Education Sector Status Report provided further indication on the status of ZEMAP, and new data that confirmed that there was a continuing need to vigorously address the issues identified in ZEMAP if quality learning was to be achieved.

The government and the community have been actively addressing the goals and objectives for education through such programs as increasing the number of schools and classrooms, promoting equity, developing teacher centers, and promoting distance learning. Donors have supported the provision of textbooks and school furniture; while the NGOs have been active working with communities to support their involvement in School Management Committees and pre-school development. The leadership of the GOZ is consistent with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) principles promoting African-led development.

ZEMAP expires in 2005-2006. MOECS is currently engaged in an education sector review and has produced a Zero Draft Education Policy Document that will form the basis of the new policy framework for the next ten years. MKEZA could play an important part in this process through its established networks and partners in Zanzibar under the auspices of the MKEZA project.

For more information, see Overview of Zanzibar Education System.

Other information:

Politics
Zanzibar was originally a separate entity from Tanzania. On December 19, 1963 Zanzibar gained independence from the United Kingdom, and then united with Tanzania on April 26, 1964. However, it has its own semi-autonomous government made up of a Revolutionary Council and House of Representatives. Though the Government of Tanzania handles defense, foreign affairs, and monetary issues, the Government of Zanzibar maintains control over all other issues including an autonomous Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.

Economy
The currency is the Tanzanian shilling. Today a large part of the economy is based on tourism. Zanzibar's economy relies heavily on trade in agriculture, which recently hit an all time low. Known to many as the "Spice Islands," Zanzibar's primary export was originally spices, particularly cloves. It also attracts a lot of tourism, which also showed a decline due to political tensions on the Islands prior to and following the 2000 elections, and the subsequent global terrorism alerts issued by Western countries. These factors, coupled with a previous suspension of foreign aid resulting from a donor boycott in the mid-1990s, places Zanzibar in an economic crises from which it is slowly recovering.

Demography
The population of Zanzibar is about 800,000 people, of which approximately 150,000 are found on the island of Pemba. Zanzibar contains a diverse population of Native African, Arab, and Indian ethnicities of which 95% are Muslim and 5% are Christian and Hindu.

Language
The languages most commonly spoken are Swahili and English, but also Italian and Arabic due to the influx of tourists from those areas.

Food
Zanzibar is well known for its fresh seafood and locally grown spices. The diversity of cuisines from the Middle East, India and main land Africa create a delicious combination unique to the islands of Zanzibar.