Browsing by Author "Hellela, Grace Mbilinyi"

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    The effect of user charges on access and participation in public primary schools in Kinondoni district.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2001) Hellela, Grace Mbilinyi
    This study examined how user charges affect access to and participation in public primary schools in Kinondoni District of Dar es Salaam. It was necessitated by the need to determine the impact of the cost-sharing measures introduced by the Tanzania Government in recent years. The study draws upon the human capital theory as well as related literature in economics of education, economics of health care and development economics. The study answers four research questions relating user charges to enrolment, attendance and completion, participation in sports and choice of which child to enrol. Quantitative (questionnaire survey) approach was utilized to collect data from 20 purposively selected parents, 200 pupils and 28 class teachers from four public primary schools in urban and rural locations of Kinondoni district. Qualitative (interview) approach was also utilized to collect data from head teachers and some parents. The documentary method provided enrolment trends, attendance and dropout rates during 1990-98. The study found out that there was no significant increase in enrolment to standard one, especially in rural areas, and that schools were of low quality due to a heavy reliance on user charges which were not duly paid. Findings revealed also that attendance dropped by 20% during the period under study and dropouts increased especially in the rural schools. Most poor pupils are not able to pay and participate in sports and clubs. However, findings suggested that user charges do not influence the choice of which child to enrol. The findings suggest that imposition of user charges is likely to be neglected if the charges are not adequate to permit noticeable improvement in service quality; and even if a system of user charges were to permit a sufficient improvement in service quality, it is unlikely to be sustained if it results in large inequalities in service utilization.