Schooling in Pemba

Maungani school in Pemba Island
Pupil studying at Maungani school in Pemba Island, Zanzibar Archipelago. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski

In Zanzibar and Pemba primary education (Standard l – Vll, typically ages 7-13) is legally compulsory and free of charge. Though often lack of finances forces the teaching to take place under a bit alternative circumstances and sometimes lack of furniture gives the pupils no other choice but to sit on the floor.

Pupils proudly show tomatoes they have grown
Pupils proudly show tomatoes they have grown at Kwamtipura school in Zanzibar. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski
Pupils show their home grown bananas
Pupils show their home grown bananas at Mikandani school in Pemba. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski
Pupils sit on the floor in Maungani school
Pupils sit on the floor in the classroom at Maungani school in Pemba. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski
A young female student wearing the traditional hijab
It is mandatory for the girls to wear the traditional hijab in the classroom in schools in Pemba and Zanzibar. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski
A young student in the classroom in a school in Pemba
A young student in the classroom in a school in Pemba. Image taken with a Pentax K2 and SMC-K 50mm 1.4 lens on Kodak Portra 160 film. Photo © Mikkel Grabowski