Empowering Classrooms: UDSM’s Albert Chagula Secures Major Grant to Transform Teacher Training
By Zamda George, CMU
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has marked yet another milestone in research and innovation, as Mr. Albert Chagula from the School of Education secured a landmark grant worth TZS 481 million from the Belgian Development Agency to revolutionise teacher training in Tanzania.
The project, officially registered as “Wezesha Binti Project: Design, Development and Delivery of a Blended CPD Programme”, carries an institutional overhead of TZS 57.7 million and is poised to make a transformative impact on secondary education in Kigoma Region.
At its core, the Wezesha Binti Project seeks to build teacher capacity through a blended, school-based in-service training model that emphasises both subject mastery and innovative teaching methodologies. The project will address crucial areas including English as a language of instruction, ICT integration, gender-sensitive pedagogy, guidance and counselling, reflective practice and action research, environmental education, and leadership and management.
A unique component of the initiative is the training of Master Trainers, who will later spearhead in-service training in 25 secondary schools across Kigoma. This cascading approach aims to strengthen teacher competence at multiple levels, ultimately improving classroom instruction, boosting student learning outcomes, and fostering a lasting culture of educational excellence.
Speaking after the award announcement, Mr. Chagula expressed deep gratitude and outlined his vision for the project. “This grant is not only a recognition of our ongoing work in teacher development, but also an opportunity to confront real challenges in our schools.”
He added: “Through the Wezesha Binti Project, we aim to empower teachers with both content knowledge and practical teaching methods that will directly improve learning outcomes for students in Kigoma and beyond”.
Mr. Chagula also acknowledged the vital contribution of the former Dean of the School of Education, Prof. Eugene Kafanabo, whose leadership guided the project from its initial concept to successful implementation. He noted that Prof. Kafanabo’s mentorship and commitment to advancing teacher education were instrumental in shaping the Wezesha Binti Project’s direction and impact.
UDSM’s mission of scholarly excellence and societal relevance
The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research congratulated Mr. Chagula and the School of Education team for exemplifying UDSM’s mission of scholarly excellence and societal relevance.
“These achievements embody our vision to transform knowledge into impact. We celebrate colleagues who not only secure research funding but also translate it into tangible improvements in the lives of Tanzanians,” he remarked.
The Dean of the School of Education, Dr. Nkanileka Loti Mgonda, lauded the achievement as a model of the School’s strategic contribution to national education priorities. “This project demonstrates how the School of Education can serve as a hub for transformative teacher training in Tanzania.
He said that by adopting blended approaches and promoting gender-sensitive pedagogy, the researcher is closing critical gaps in the education system while positioning UDSM as a leader in innovative teacher capacity development.
The success of the Wezesha Binti Project adds to UDSM’s growing list of research triumphs during the April–June 2025 reporting period. It follows the recent accomplishment of Dr. Leonard Peter Binamungu, who secured a major consultancy in ICT curriculum development valued at TZS 550 million earlier in the same quarter.
Together, these achievements reaffirm UDSM’s standing as a powerhouse of innovation, where faculty members are not only advancing knowledge but also driving real-world change through impactful research and partnerships.