This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the policy, practice, research, and institutional landscape of school leadership in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Developed by the African Centre for School Leadership (ACSL) in partnership with national institutions, the report aims to identify strengths, gaps, and strategic opportunities to strengthen school leadership as a driver of quality, equity, and improved learning outcomes.
Using a mixed-methods approach that combined policy reviews, analysis of 161 research publications, surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and stakeholder validation, the study examines governance structures, professional development systems, leadership practices, research capacity, and sector coordination.
The findings highlight significant progress through policy reforms, leadership training programmes, and institutional support led by ADEM and its partners. However, persistent challenges remain, including uneven access to professional development, limited leadership autonomy, gender disparities, fragmented research, weak collaboration, and insufficient translation of research into policy and practice. The report also establishes Tanzania’s first nationally validated school leadership research agenda and presents a roadmap for strengthening leadership standards, coordination, evidence use, and inclusive professional development. Overall, it concludes that sustained investment, stronger partnerships, and institutionalised evidence-based decision-making are essential to building an effective, equitable, and future-ready school leadership system.