Salary Scales of Teachers in Tanzania and Their Grades
Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of any nation, and in Tanzania, their contribution to education and national development is highly significant. Understanding the salary scales of teachers and how these relate to their professional grades helps to clarify how the teaching profession is structured and rewarded. This article explains the main teacher grades and the corresponding salary levels as they existed before recent salary adjustments.
In Tanzania, teachers’ salaries are determined by their level of education, professional training, and years of service. The public service salary structure groups teachers into different grades, each with a specific pay scale. These grades are commonly referred to as TGTS (Teacher Grade for Technical and Secondary Schools) and TGOS (Teacher Grade for Ordinary Schools), among others.
For primary school teachers, the most common entry level is Grade C, which includes teachers with a Grade A Teacher Certificate. These teachers traditionally earned lower salaries compared to their counterparts in secondary schools. Diploma holders in education were placed in Grade B, which offered a moderately higher salary reflecting their advanced training.
Secondary school teachers are mainly categorized under Grade A and Grade B depending on their qualifications. Teachers with a Diploma in Education were often placed in TGTS C, while those with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education were placed in TGTS B. Graduate teachers enjoyed higher pay due to their higher academic qualifications and the complexity of teaching at secondary level.
At the top of the teaching profession are teachers with postgraduate qualifications, such as a Master’s Degree or PhD. These professionals are placed in higher grades like TGTS A or equivalent senior scales. In addition to higher basic salaries, they may also receive leadership or responsibility allowances, especially if they hold positions such as head of school, academic master, or education officer.
Apart from basic salary, teachers may benefit from allowances such as housing allowance, responsibility allowance, and hardship allowance, depending on their posting and role. However, these allowances vary and are subject to government policies and budget allocations.
Salary progression for teachers is also influenced by promotions, years of service, and performance assessments. Moving from one grade to another usually requires additional qualifications, experience, or successful promotion interviews.
NB: The salary scales discussed in this article refer to the period before the recent salary increase. Currently, the minimum wage for teachers and other public servants is TSh 500,000, following the government’s latest salary adjustments.
Overall, understanding teachers’ salary grades helps promote transparency and appreciation of the teaching profession, while also highlighting the importance of continued reforms to improve teachers’ welfare and motivation.