The FDCs were established in the 1970s to meet the social economic challenge of the time target mainly the neo-literates. They began to function effectively from the beginning of 1976 and are conceived as one of the programmes for meeting the needs and challenges of post-literacy continuing education by providing residential educational opportunities, both general and vocational, for rural development. Among many other non-formal education programmes in Tanzania, the FDC programme reflects Tanzania's strong political commitment to the cause of providing adult education and non-formal education aimed at improving, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the social and economic conditions of the vast majority of the people who live in the rural areas.