Browsing by Author "Mlowe, Leopold"

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    Care and support services to orphaned primary school children in Tanzania: the case of Makete District
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2011) Mlowe, Leopold
    This dissertation is concerned with care and support services extended to orphaned primary school children in Tanzania with specific reference to Makete District. The study rests on the following objectives: To identify the basic educational needs and to examine the accessibility and sustainability of care and support services. Finally, the study was aimed at identifying the challenges which stakeholders face in providing care and support services to orphaned primary school children. The sampling techniques involved in selecting the participants of this study were simple random sampling and purposive sampling. Participants involved in the study were orphaned primary school children, guardians, district officers, head teachers, Ward Education Co-ordinators (WECs) and teachers. Data collection methods comprised questionnaires, interviews and documentary review. The data collected were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The participants whose experiences informed and shaped the dissertation were heterogeneous in nature although largely based in education.The findings revealed that orphaned primary school children were provided with several need-based educational services, such as food, shelter, clothing and school materials. They were also given empathy, love, information, safety and security. These orphaned primary school children had accessed to assistance in general, although the process was not sustainable. It was also revealed that stakeholders faced various challenges in caring and supporting orphaned primary school children. These challenges include inadequate and delayed assistance, rapid increase in the number of orphans, HIV/AIDS positive orphaned children and inequality in the provision of assistance. Ways employed in dealing with the challenges included raising community awareness, encouraging collaboration among stakeholders, encouraging schools to provide lunch, and placing emphasis on caring for HIV/AIDS positive affected orphans. These challenges undermined the provision of education to orphaned and vulnerable children.Thus it is recommended that the government should allocate more funds, encourage collaboration among stakeholders, and establish mechanisms and policies which will help to make sure that orphaned primary school children are well cared of and assisted. Finally, it is recommended that the government and the community at large should prioritise pupils with special cases such as HIV/AIDS positive primary school orphans.