Browsing by Author "Rajabu, Hadija"

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    The role of parents’ associations in improving the academic performance of public secondary schools in Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2011) Rajabu, Hadija
    The study sought to investigate the role of parents’ associations in improving the academic performance of public secondary schools in Tanzania. In particular, the study attempted to examine the contributions of parents’ associations to the academic performance, investigate the mode of operations and explore the challenges the parents’ association face. The study employed qualitative research approach and a case study design. The area of the study was Kilakala Secondary School in Morogoro Region. The sample of the study was composed of 25 respondents, including 10 parents’ association members obtained through purposive technique, 10 students and 5 teachers obtained through convenience sampling. Data were collected through interviews and documentary review. Data from the interview were analysed by using descriptive display matrices and data from documentary review were subjected to content analysis. The findings reveal that parents’ associations contribute a lot in improving the academic performance of the school. Through this association, parents contributed funds used to motivate teachers and teach remedial classes. The remedial classes intended for catering individual differences and helping slow learners. Also, these classes helped teachers to complete covering syllabus early, thus enabling students to get enough time for revisions and manage their time more effectively, which in turn help to improve the academic performance of the school. Also, findings show that parents’ association work hand-in-hand with the school during planning and implementation of its objectives. The study has also revealed numerous challenges faced by parents’ association and the school. These include failure by most parents to contribute and attend meetings due to economic hardships, local government authorities to prohibit monetary contributions from parents/guardians and lack of sensitisation among parents on the importance of education. The school also failed to carry out extra-curricular activities and identify slow learners. Based on these findings, the study recommends that due to scarcity of resources,e the government/local government authorities should promote rather than undermine partnerships in education provision to achieve EFA goals. Hence, there is a need to increase and strengthen co-operation with all education stakeholders in the planning and passing different laws, acts, regulations and declarations. Also, parent association should be creative, innovative and expand the sources of raising funds by investing in various sustainable projects such as poultry and dairy farming