667,040 candidates start national Form Four examinations today

Dar es Salaam. A total of 667,040 candidates are expected to sit Tanzania’s Form Four national examinations from October 19 to November 6, 2026, as the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Necta) steps up security measures to ensure a safe and fair examination period.

Speaking at a press conference on October 18, Necta Executive Director, Prof Said Ally Mohamed, said preparations had been completed, including the distribution of examination papers, answer booklets and other essential documents to examination centres across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

He also assured candidates, parents and guardians that security arrangements had been put in place, including contingency plans in case El Niño-related rains affect the country during the examination period.

The Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE), will be conducted at 6,265 secondary schools and 802 centres for private candidates.

According to Prof Mohamed, of the 667,040 registered candidates, 644,085 are school candidates, while 22,955 are private candidates.

Girls account for the majority of school candidates, numbering 346,776, equivalent to 53.84 percent, compared with 297,309 boys, or 46.16 percent. Among private candidates, 12,732 are girls, representing 55.47 per cent, while 10,223 are boys, accounting for 44.53 per cent.

The number of registered school candidates has increased by 74,202, or 13.02 percent, compared with 569,883 in 2025.

The increase comes as the country continues to expand access to secondary education, placing greater importance on examination management, adequate facilities and the fair assessment of learners.

Prof Mohamed said the examination was an important assessment of knowledge and skills acquired by candidates during their four years of secondary education.

“The results of this examination are used to select candidates for Form Five and various professional training fields, including health, agriculture and technical education,” he said.

Necta said preparations had also been made for candidates with special needs to ensure they could sit the examinations under appropriate conditions.

There are 910 school candidates with special needs. Of these, 455 have low vision, 13 are blind, 98 have hearing impairments, 21 have intellectual disabilities and 323 have physical disabilities.

Among private candidates, 73 have special needs, including 69 with low vision and four who are blind.

The council said candidates who are blind would receive examination papers in Braille, while those with low vision would be provided with enlarged print.

“Candidates with special needs are also entitled to additional time, in line with Necta guidelines. They are to receive an extra 20 minutes for every hour in Basic Mathematics and 10 minutes for every hour in other subjects,” he said.

To protect the integrity of the examinations, Necta has directed regional and council examination committees to strengthen security at centres and ensure that all procedures follow the council’s guidelines.

Supervisors have been instructed to perform their duties professionally and impartially, ensuring that every candidate receives a fair opportunity to complete the examination within the allocated time.

School owners and heads have also been warned against interfering with examination supervisors. Necta said it could cancel any examination centre found to have engaged in activities that threaten the security of the examinations.

Candidates have been cautioned against cheating, with the council warning that anyone found involved in examination malpractice would have their results cancelled in accordance with examination regulations.

The council has also appealed to communities to keep unauthorised people away from school premises throughout the examination period to allow candidates to work in a peaceful environment.

Prof Mohamed wished all candidates success and called on education stakeholders, parents and the public to cooperate in ensuring that the examinations are conducted peacefully and without malpractice.

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October 21, 2026