Press Releases

Ambassador Green Hands Over 600,000 Science Textbooks for Secondary Students of Zanzibar

January 8, 2008

Zanzibar: Monday, January 7th marked the official handover of over 600,000 new science textbooks for the secondary students of Zanzibar. The textbooks were designed specifically for the children of Zanzibar and adhere to the science curriculum of Zanzibar. These books will address the critical shortage of science textbooks to date and will allow every secondary student in Zanzibar to have his or her own copy to use.

The textbooks were developed and are being donated on behalf of the American people through the U.S. Africa Education Initiative and the U.S. Agency for International Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and South Carolina State University.

The Africa Education Initiative in Tanzania was announced by U.S. President George W. Bush in 2002 and focuses on three primary activities: girls’ scholarships, teacher training and the development of textbooks and learning materials. In addition to the $1 million used to produce the science textbooks, an additional $2 million has been made available for the development of mathematics book. This is in addition to $7 million that the American people are providing to Tanzania to support basic education and is part of ongoing U.S. Government direct and multilateral assistance to Tanzania of more than 725 billion Tanzanian shillings.