State-Civil Society Relationship: The Case of the State and HakiElimu in Tanzania

Abstract

In pursuit of Education for All (EFA), the government of Tanzania, in collaboration with donors, embarked on an ambitious Primary Education Development Plan (PEDP) that aimed at amongst others, rapid expansion of school enrolment. This had far ranging implications on the capacity of the education sector, both human and material resources, to cope with the growing numbers. A research by HakiElimu, a renown civil society organization engaged largely with education, exposed fundamental problems in the education sector following the expansion, much to the detest of the government. What followed was a bitter confrontation between the state and HakiElimu. This paper presents the developments of that confrontation, and analyses it with a view as to what happens when a CSO tries to lock horns with the state. The main lesson is that a CSO takes a great risk by trying to criticize the state’s efforts, and therefore it needs to re-assure itself of its ability to survive government’s pressure when it comes.