This study assessed the effects of fee-free education on teaching and learning in public primary schools in Nyasa District, Tanzania. Guided by Human Capital Theory, the research involved 47 participants, including education officers, school heads, teachers, parents and pupils from four primary schools. A qualitative case study design was used, with data collected through interviews, focus group discussions and document reviews. Findings revealed that while school heads demonstrated effective managerial skills, they encountered significant challenges, such as limited funding, misconceptions about the scope of fee-free education, overcrowded classrooms and a shortage of teaching materials. These factors hindered the full realization of fee-free education’s potential in improving teaching and learning outcomes.