Improving Teacher-Pupil ratio in secondary schools in Tanzania: a case study of Mwanza Region
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Date
2008-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University; College of Education Open and Distance Learning
Abstract
The study aimed at finding means of solving the increasing teacher-pupil- ratio in secondary schools in Tanzania using Mwanza Region as a case study area. The researcher used questionnaires and interviews as tools of data collection; these were administered to Students, teachers and education officers who were the source of data collection. The population of the study consisted of 49,509 people of which 268 consisted the sample.
In the study the following four factors were revealed as major causes of the high and ever increasing teacher-pupil-ratio.
(i) Poor salary of teachers
(ii) Poor teachers condition of service
(iii) Dictatorship of the administrators
(iv) Lack of prestige to teaching professional
A Degree holder teacher is paid Tshs 157,500 while a lawyer of the same qualification is paid Tshs. 450,000 monthly. Most teachers work in areas where there are no social services like transport, hospitals, housing etc. while other professionals like lawyers and bankers work in towns and cities where the mentioned social services are available. School teachers are not involved in decision making about education matters. Politicians usually decide on educational matters while other professions like lawyers, their matters are set by the professional lawyers themselves. • Teaching is considered a threat by most of the members of the society, while other professionals are considered as noble professions. The researcher had the following recommendations towards solving the problem:
(i) To improve teacher~ salary from Tshs 157,500 to Tshs 500,000 per month.
(ii) Improving rural environments by providing social services such as housing, hospitals roads, etc.
(iii) Involvement of subject teachers in decision making about education matters
(iv) The government should sponsor students who offer education courses
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfillment for the Award of the Degree in Bachelor of Science with Education, Kampala International University.
Keywords
Teacher-Pupil ratio, Secondary schools, Mwanza Region, Tanzania