In March 1999, before TEN/MET was formed, NGOs were offered by
the Ministry of Education and Culture, the opportunity to participate
in the formal Appraisal of the Education Sector Development Plan.
We only just made it! There were no structures in place for NGOs
in education to communicate with each other, no commonly identified
goals, and no pre-existing means of ensuring the accountability
of the NGOs who took part in the Appraisal. Education sector NGOs
are now in a much better position. In April 1999 we co-hosted
a workshop at which TEN/MET was formed, and Maarifa became its
secretariat. In January 2001, Maarifa facilitated a strategic
planning process for TEN/MET which has ensured that we have a
clear and accountable structure through which to work, and a focus
for our activities at district, national and international level.
There is a steering committee, which includes CBOs, Tanzanian
NGOs and International NGOs, district level networks and a sub-sector
network on early childhood education . Over 200 organisations
now participate.
Maarifa is also the coordinator of education sector NGOs input
into the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Through TEN/MET
we already knew many of the key players in the field, shared common
ground with them, and could develop a rapid and informed response
to issues being discussed. We will maintain this and ensure strong
NGO monitoring of debt relief money.
