Dar es Salaam Independent School vs Genesis Schools
Dar es Salaam Independent School and Genesis Schools are both in Dar Es Salaam, about 5 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge (Secondary) programmes. Dar es Salaam Independent School also offers Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels and BTEC Qualification, and Genesis Schools also offers Cambridge (Primary). Published annual fees are TZS 1,500,000 - 11,200,000 at Dar es Salaam Independent School and TZS 1,650,000 at Genesis Schools, which puts Dar es Salaam Independent School roughly 285% higher. Both take pupils from 2 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 752 and 621 pupils.
Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels, BTEC Qualification
Curriculum
Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary)
Pupils
Pupils
752
Pupils
621
Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1996
Opened
2003
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Two campuses in Dar es Salaam: Mikocheni Campus (main campus for Early Years and Primary from grade 1-6) and Mbweni Campus (Middle, Secondary and High School). P.O. Box 32391, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Location
Genesis Schools operates in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with two campuses: Oyster Bay Campus in Oyster Bay and Kisota Campus in Kigamboni. Preschool through Year 10 are served by the school.
Cambridge International School; English-medium and bilingual; Cambridge IGCSE & AS/A Levels; Edexcel BTEC; day school.
School type
Cambridge International School; follows the Cambridge Curriculum.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
A professional international team of teachers, psychologists, methodologists and other specialists provides an educational environment that motivates students to achieve high learning outcomes.
- Pearson BTEC option (where chosen): TSh 2,820,000 per year (payable for the BTEC years as applicable).
Transport (school bus) fees
- Mbweni route: Short route TSh 220,000; Long route TSh 250,000. - Mikocheni route: Short route TSh 190,000; Long route TSh 220,000. - Bus payments are collected through the school accounts office.
Other costs and routine charges
- Cambridge examination registration fees (Checkpoint, IGCSE, AS & A Levels) are payable by parents/guardians and must be paid by the school's published deadline for exams; outstanding school fee balances must be cleared before a student can be registered for Cambridge examinations. - Certain activities (study tours, school trips and other optional events) require additional, separate payments announced in advance. - Fundraising / occasional levy: e.g., free‑dress day contribution TSh 2,000 (applies when such events are run). - Textbooks and stationery provision: tuition fee payments cover textbooks and stationery; textbooks issued for IGCSE and A‑level courses are provided for the full two‑year course.
Uniform and appearance (costs not itemised)
- Uniform required: white t‑shirt/shirt with school logo for all pupils; black tailored trousers/skirts for secondary and black shorts/pinafore for primary; PE house t‑shirts assigned on registration; closed shoes required. (Uniform items are obtained through local suppliers; prices are not itemised here.)
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The academic year is billed in three instalments falling in August, November and February. Specific instalment dates listed are: 15 August (1st), 30 November (2nd) and 28 February (3rd) for the instalment amounts published. - Fees are payable before or on each instalment date. Parents must submit proof of payment (deposit slip) to the accounts office to obtain an official receipt. - Students who enter or leave before term completion are required to pay the full term fee. Enrolment continues until the school receives written notice of withdrawal. The school may withhold access to classes, official documents, report cards or transcripts until all outstanding fee balances are cleared.
Refund information
- The registration / admission fee is non‑refundable. - Students who leave during a term remain liable for the full term fee (no pro‑rata reduction for mid‑term withdrawal). - Payments made toward optional activities (for example study tours) are treated as separate and are subject to the event's stated payment and refund policy; examination entries will not be processed while there are outstanding school fee balances.
Accepted payment methods and instructions
- Bank transfer / bank deposit to the school account: ABSA BANK TSh account number 001 4002820; ABSA BANK USD account number 001 8003066. Parents should make payments into the school bank account and submit the deposit slip to the accounts office as proof of payment. - The school instructs that fee payments be made into the school bank account and processed via the accounts office. No public listing of card‑payment acceptance is provided in the published fee information; payments are handled through bank transfer/deposit and the accounts office.
Sanctions for late or unsettled fees
- If fees are not paid on time the school may deny access to classes and withhold official documentation and Cambridge examination registration until all arrears are cleared. The school reserves the right to refuse admission or stop provision of services if fees remain unpaid.
Tuition fees by year group (available public figures)
- Publicly available tuition figures for Genesis Schools appear as a lower/upper range rather than a detailed grade-by-grade schedule: annual tuition has been listed in public directories in the range of TZS 1,650,000 to TZS 3,168,000 (reported figure set shown for earlier published school-year material). These figures are shown as annual tuition amounts.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment sequence required at admissions: - Application/registration payment is required at application. - Assessment/evaluation/interview payment is required as part of the admissions process. - The school requires completion of the finance form and payment of an administration fee / first installment as part of the final admission steps.
Boarding fees
- Genesis Schools is operated as a day school; no boarding fee schedule is published because the school is listed as a coeducational day school.
Other costs and typical additional fees
- One-off and ancillary charges that are commonly listed for comparable international schools (and appear in public school-directory summaries) include registration/re-registration and additional exam or certification fees; specific amounts for uniform, textbooks, transport, meals or extracurricular charges for Genesis Schools are not published in the publicly available material consulted. Reported public summaries for similar schools indicate ancillary costs are commonly charged in addition to tuition.
Refund information
- No published refund policy or explicit refund amounts/conditions were found in the school's public admissions or contact materials. The school's admissions process requires payment of the application and assessment fees and requires completion of the finance form with payment of an administration fee / first installment as part of admission.
Fee payment options
- No specific public list of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, mobile money or cash) is published on the public admissions or contact pages reviewed. Payment arrangements are handled through the school finance process at admission. Contact channels are provided for the finance office and reception.
Summary of key numeric items
- Application / Registration fee: TZS 500,000. - Assessment / evaluation / interview fee: TZS 400,000. - Publicly listed annual tuition range seen in external school directories: TZS 1,650,000 to TZS 3,168,000 (annual figures reported in directory listings).
If you require these figures presented in a specific format for your database (single-line fields for each fee item and currency), the numeric items above can be mapped directly to database fields.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
DIS follows the Cambridge Assessment International Education Framework for Primary and Lower Secondary up to the end of Grade 9. Primary Checkpoint is taken in English, Mathematics, Science and Global Perspective (Class 6) and Lower Secondary in Year 9. Grades 10–11 follow Cambridge IGCSE syllabi, with students sitting IGCSE examinations in 7–9 subjects across Languages, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities and Creative/Vocational subjects. Grades 12–13 complete Cambridge GCE A‑Levels, usually choosing 3–4 subjects. English is the medium of instruction; Kiswahili is taught as a subject of equal value to English and French is taught as a foreign language, with regular school trips to France. The school is accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education and Edexcel for BTEC, and operates on two campuses: Mikocheni (Early Years and Primary) and Mbweni (Middle, Secondary and High School).
Curriculum details
Genesis Schools provides the Cambridge International Curriculum. From the age of five to nineteen, the Pathway provides pupils with a clear route to academic achievement. The curriculum uses a diverse range of courses and delivery methods to help learners discover new abilities and develop life skills. It is based on international education standards, developed by subject‑matter experts and supported by Cambridge resources to aid progression between levels. The aim is to nurture Cambridge learners who are self‑assured, responsible, inventive, and engaged.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
Student to teacher ratio is approximately 1:6.5 (621 registered students and 96 professional teachers).
Exam results
Exam results
DIS Examination Results are published by level: Primary Checkpoint results are provided for English, Mathematics, Science and Global Perspective; Form Two Checkpoint results are provided for English, Maths, Science and Global Perspectives; Form Four IGCSE results cover Languages, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities and Creative/Vocational subjects; Form Five AS‑Level results cover Languages, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities and Creative/Vocational; Form Six A‑Level results cover Languages, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities and Creative/Vocational. The page states that Results are in and that resources have been created to help understand the results.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
98% go to college; many DIS graduates have been accepted into premier colleges and universities around the world.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
—
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions procedures & Requirements: The school uses a five-step process. 01 APPLICATION FORM: To begin the application process, complete DIS APPLICATION FORM. 02 Payments: After completing the application form, send it to the address provided. The admission fee is required along with the documents, and payment is made through the school bank account. Documents to be submitted with the application form: Progress Report; Copy of Birth Certificate; Passport Photo; Leaving / Transfer certificate. 03 ASSESSMENT: The parent/guardian will be contacted for the placement assessment. In conjunction with previous school reports, the placement assessment tools determine a student's readiness for the DIS programs, including any English language and/or special needs support, with no additional fees charged. 04 NOTIFICATION: After assessment, the complete file is forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review before a final admissions decision is made by the Deputy Head Teacher (Admissions) of the Primary; the Deputy Head Teacher (Admissions) of the Secondary Department will test all students applying for a place in Class 7 to Form 4; Head of Secondary and Quality Assurance Manager for a place in Form 5 to Form 6. The process is completed as quickly as possible, but the time between assessment and notification varies by file. 05 FINAL: Possible outcomes include Accepted; Provisionally accepted (based on reports alone); Conditionally accepted (with academic or social concerns to be monitored); Waitlisted (due to no space); Denied Admission (for academic or social concerns beyond the scope of the program).
Admissions
1. Submit an online preliminary Google form with accurate details. Applications are accepted for Pre-School up to Grade 10 at Genesis Oyster Bay Campus and Genesis Kisota Campus for the 2023-2024 academic year. The form collects information about the applicant and the family to support evaluation. Submissions should be complete to avoid delays. 2. Pay the application fee of Tshs 500,000 and the assessment, evaluation, and interview fee of Tshs 400,000. Payment is required to proceed to the admission process. 3. An interview date is arranged after the form and payment are received. The interview assesses the applicant; an entrance exam may also be part of the process. 4. Complete the Application/Registration Form and submit all required documentation. The school processes admission and updates the final decision within 3 days of receiving payment and all documentation. 5. Attend the interview; an Entrance Exam covering Maths/Science and English is completed. Administration reviews the results and makes an initial assessment of suitability. 6. Submit the finance form and pay the admin fee or the first installment. The final admission decision is communicated within 3 days of receipt of payment and documentation.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
Waitlisted (due to no space) is a possible admission outcome.