Browsing by Author "Michael, Pantaleo"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Institutional and situational challenges facing undergraduates students at open university of tanzania at kinondoni regional centre
    (University of Dar es Salaam,, 2017) Michael, Pantaleo
    The purpose of this study was to examine institutional and situational challenges facing undergraduate students at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). The Kinondoni Open University branch was used as a case study. In the first place, the study identified support services provided to students at OUT. Secondly, the study explored students’ suggestion on measures to be taken by OUT to address the challenges they were facing. The study was conducted at the Kinondoni Open University branch in Dar es Salaam whereby 45 respondents participated. These respondents were obtained through purposeful sampling technique targeting to undergraduates’ students only. The study was essentially qualitative. The instruments of data collection used in the study included interviews, observation and documentary reviews. The findings of the study indicated that undergraduate students at OUT were facing a number of challenges. These challenges were classified into two broader categories, namely: situational and institutional. On the one hand, situational challenges included, among others: inadequate time for study, financial problems, inadequate family and employer support, less supportive home learning environment during the study. On the other hand, institutional challenges were higher fees charged to students, inadequate tutors’ support, challenges related to university examination rules and regulations which do not consider distance learning, inadequate number of lecturers, shortage of study materials and those resulting from practical teaching especially for students taking science programmes. The study recommends students pursuing further education at Open University of Tanzania have to be provided with adequate study materials, lowering of the fees charged, increase tutor support to students and revising tests and examination rules and regulations.