June 25, 2025 | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
As part of the Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP), PEP-supported researchers hosted a national policy conference to present new findings showing that school-based malaria prevention significantly improves academic performance and contributes to Tanzania’s education and development goals.
July 25, 2025, | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
At a high-level national policy conference in Dar es Salaam, researchers under the Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP) presented compelling new evidence on the powerful link between student health and academic performance in Tanzania. The study, conducted with support from the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) and the Global Education Analytics Institute (GEAI), shows that school-based malaria prevention is not just a health strategy—it’s a smart education investment.
Organized by Dr. Mkupete Jaah of the University of Dar es Salaam (MUCE), the event brought together more than 30 policymakers and stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, PO-RALG, Tanzania’s ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), development partners, civil society organizations, and media outlets, including ITV Daima.
The research findings show that reducing malaria exposure can lead to a 5.8% improvement in academic performance, with students gaining an average of 2.4 more years of schooling. The gains were especially notable in arts and business subjects (+7.4%) compared to STEM (+5.8%), and girls benefitted slightly more than boys (6.6% vs. 5.4%).
“These are the kinds of results we need to advocate for stronger investment in school health,” said Dr. Theresia from PO-RALG. “Healthier students are better learners, and this evidence gives us a real basis to push for change.”
The study also highlighted how health shocks during early childhood, especially from diseases like malaria, can impair cognitive development, limiting students’ long-term educational outcomes. As such, the researchers recommend integrating malaria prevention into school development plans, prioritizing health interventions from pregnancy to age five, reviving the School Net Programme, and promoting cross-sector collaboration—especially joint education-health budgeting and delivery of school-based services.
Senior government officials, including Dr. Joyce Sigalla and Mr. Joel Mhoja from the Ministry of Education, welcomed the findings as timely and relevant to ongoing policy reforms. Mr. Partic Kabendela, representing CCM’s manifesto team, noted that “evidence like this helps shape our priorities. If reflected in the party agenda, it can drive nationwide benefits.”
Interactive sessions followed the presentations, with several participants committing to championing the research findings within their institutions and policy circles. Strong media coverage, including live segments by ITV Daima, underscored the national importance of aligning health and education strategies to build Tanzania’s human capital.
The conference was part of the two-year AFEP initiative, supported by the Yidan Prize, which aims to strengthen locally led, evidence-informed education policymaking across sub-Saharan Africa.
Key takeaway: Malaria control is not just about preventing illness—it’s about enabling learning, closing gender gaps, and driving Tanzania’s Vision 2025.
