Implications of institutional politics in the implementation of higher education policy reforms in Tanzania, 1985–2020

Policy implementation is vital for the realization of predetermined policy goals. In the last decades, several studies have analyzed higher education policy reforms. Nevertheless, studies on institutional politics and the implementation of higher education policy reforms in the Tanzanian context are scant. Drawing on new institutionalism, this paper examines the implications of institutional politics in the implementation of higher education policy reforms in Tanzania. The paper paid a specific focus on higher education financing, access, and quality as its analytical dimensions. Data collection was grounded on semi-structured elite interviews conducted with 32 key informants elites purposively selected from the institutions covered in the study. This was supplemented by data generated from the analysis of documents. Findings suggest that political interests directed the implementation of higher education financing and access policies, which in turn affected the quality of education delivered. The paper recommends for a policy guarantee on the autonomy of higher education institutions (HEIs), the need for HEIs to stick on academic requirements to counter financial temptations, and refraining from the politicization of financing education. Political determination is stressed as core for building the foundation for effective policies in higher education and education in general.