Browsing by Author "Msegeya, Salome"

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    Factors affecting female students’ enrollment in science subjects at advanced secondary education in selected schools in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2009) Msegeya, Salome
    The aim of this was to find out factors affecting female students’ enrollment in science subjects at advanced secondary education in selected schools in Kilimanjaro and Ministry of Education in Dar es Salaam involving 95 respondents. The study used qualitative research approaches in triangulated data collections techniques. Findings revealed that most of science lessons in the sampled schools were taught by lecture method. Practical work, which is crucial for understanding scientific concepts was rarely done. Inadequate practical work has made science learning difficult, something which has an impact to students’ enrollment in science subjects. The Education Policy lacks realistic implementation strategies as it was found that there is no communication between policy planners and teachers in schools. Teachers are unaware of strategies motivating female students to enroll in science subjects. Female students’ performance in science subjects, which has remained poor for many years, has created a sense of fear among female students that, if they opt for science combination they can fail. The number of female teachers teaching science subjects is smaller than male teachers. Scarcity of female teachers in sciences has an influence in female students’ enrollment in sciences because teachers faced difficulties in studying science subjects such as poor teaching approaches discouragement from peers as well as other people around them, lack of career guidance and so on although some of the difficulties affect both male and female students, female students are more affected. Thus the study concluded that low enrollment of female students in science subjects is caused by several factors among being poor teaching approaches, lack of role model from other females, social myth that science is meant for males, discouragement from peers, parents and some teachers and weak educational policies concerning science education. The following recommendations were proposed:- MoEVT should provide schools with sufficient teaching and learning materials for science subjects, specifically books and laboratory facilities/equipment; MoEVT should set realistic strategies in implementation of education policy towards reducing gender gap in science subjects; To improve female students’ performance in science subjects, teachers should teach science concepts practically; MoEVT should plan special motivation for female teachers teaching science subjects so as to attract many in the teaching profession who, in turn, will act as role models for female students; and Schools should plan to have career guidance services so as to give to students’ exposure to available career opportunities in different fields of study.