A significant milestone in the development of educational leadership was reached in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, as the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development, East Africa (AKU-IED, EA), in partnership with the Agency for the Development of Education Management (ADEM), celebrated the graduation of 998 educational leaders. This 32nd graduation ceremony not only highlighted the accomplishments of these dedicated individuals but also underscored the power of partnerships in shaping the future of education in East Africa.
Among the graduates were 47 school leaders sponsored by AKU-IED, EA’s Foundations for Learning (F4L) project. These graduates completed the two-year Diploma in Education and Management Administration (DEMA) programme, a key initiative aimed at empowering school heads with critical leadership and management skills. The blended learning approach of the programme allowed participants to continue their essential work in their schools across Lindi, Mtama, Nachingwea, and Ruangwa councils, while enhancing their expertise.
The ceremony was marked by inspiring speeches, the most notable of which came from Dr Wilson Mahera, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Tanzania. His keynote address emphasized the importance of leading by example, quoting leadership expert Robin Sharma: “Be leaders without titles.” Dr Mahera urged the graduates to put their newly acquired skills to work, focusing on action and impact over formal titles.
Prof Jane Rarieya, Dean of AKU-IED, EA, commended the graduates for their perseverance and transformation. “Your journey in this diploma programme has been one of persistence, excellence, and innovation,” she said. “The leadership principles you’ve embraced will shape the way you inspire and lead, not just in your schools, but in your communities.”
The F4L project, a cornerstone of AKU-IED, EA’s mission, is dedicated to equipping educators in underserved regions with the tools they need to create systemic change. By offering fully funded scholarships, the project ensures that passionate and capable leaders receive the training they need to address educational challenges head-on.
The impact of the DEMA programme was felt profoundly by the graduates, including Onesmo Samuel, Assistant Head Teacher at Mnara Primary School in Lindi. He shared how the training had transformed his leadership approach: “Before this programme, our school faced challenges that seemed insurmountable. For example, we had only four toilet pits for 420 students. After learning the skills I needed, I wrote a project proposal and secured funding to construct 24 new toilet pits. This training didn’t just change my perspective, it gave me the tools to turn challenges into opportunities.”
This graduation marks the end of a rigorous journey and the beginning of a new era in Tanzanian educational leadership. The graduates are now equipped to lead with vision, transform obstacles into opportunities, and inspire the next generation of leaders. The ceremony was a powerful reminder of AKU-IED, EA’s commitment to advancing education through innovative lifelong training programmes and impactful partnerships that are shaping the educational landscape of East Africa.
