Masters Dissertations

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Browsing Masters Dissertations by Subject "Absenteeism"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Analysis of the role of school committees in controlling school absenteeism and dropout in public primary schools: a case Study of Handeni District, in Tanga Region
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2012) Mwinjuma, Ally
    The study sought to analyse the role of school committee in controlling school absenteeism and dropout in Public Primary Schools. It was carried out in Handeni district, Tanga region. It was a case study, involving 103 respondents from Public Primary Schools. The instruments of data collection were interviews, focus group discussion, observation, questionnaire and documentary review. Findings showed that the role and responsibilities of School Committee in handling pupils’ absenteeism and dropout was minimal. It was found that poverty, distance to school, water scarcity and repetition were the causes of school absenteeism and dropout. The challenges which were being faced by School Committees in tackling school absenteeism and dropout were lack of seminars, lack of adequate education qualification and inconsistency of some members decisions made in the meetings. There was also a laxity of some parents who were unwilling to provide their children with basic needs, failure of village governments to take the legal action against pupils dropping out from school and be engaged in criminality. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has to conduct seminars to School Committees and pay them a certain amount of allowances so as to motivate them; establish vocational schools in rural areas and revive adult education in order to avoid dropouts. Moreover, sustainable school meals need to be provided in school in order to make children less tempted to move outside the school.
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    Assessing the implementation of strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools in Babati district
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2016) Polycarp, Benedicta
    This study assessed the implementation of strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools in Babati District. The objectives of the study were: To find out relationship between level of education of the teachers and their awareness on types of teachers’ absenteeism; Find out causes of teachers’ absenteeism; Examine strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism and the extent heads of schools implemented them in managing teachers absenteeism; Investigate challenges facing heads of schools in managing teachers’ absenteeism. The study used a mixed methods approach. It involved a total of 87 respondents including heads of schools, teachers, DSEO and TDS Secretary. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and documentary review. It was found that authorized type of teachers’ absenteeism exists more in community secondary schools than unauthorized; there is no relationship between level of education of teachers and their awareness on types of teachers’ absenteeism. Causes of teachers absenteeism were reported to be; poor working conditions, social-cultural responsibilities, pay structure, community disasters, poor management; other duties; alcoholism; conflict; and lack of motivation. The strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism included; the use of teachers’ attendance registers; class journals; verbal warning; period compensation for lost periods; teachers’ meetings; counterchecking folios; permission form; Out-going permission book and reporting of absentee teachers to the DSEO office. Some of these were implemented by heads of schools but some were not. Major challenges that heads face in managing absenteeism were; lack of power to sanction absent teachers; cheating, enmity between heads of school and absentee teachers; lack of accommodation; lack of confidence among heads of schools and lack of moral education to teachers. The study concludes that teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools was a result of more existence of authorize type of teacher’ absenteeism in community secondary schools, unawareness of teachers on types of teachers absenteeism exist in community secondary schools and poor working conditions , although the strategies used to manage teachers’ absenteeism were available in community secondary schools, some were implemented and others were not implemented due to lack of confidence to heads to punish absent teachers, less power to sanction and deduct teachers’ salary, heads of schools employed various strategies to manage teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools, however their efforts were undermined by lack of mandate power to punish absent teachers. The study recommended that the TSD office in collaboration with the DSEO office should provide ethics education to teachers and heads; Government should encourage construction of classrooms by the community to go hand in hand with construction of teachers’ houses so as to reduce teachers’ distance from home to work stations. Also construction of schools should follow school mapping procedures. In order to increase confidence of heads of schools to implement strategies used to manage teachers’ absenteeism, Government through the MoEVT should provide enough management seminars to heads of schools, and recheck rules and regulations used to manage teachers’ absenteeism at least to give heads of schools some power to dismiss and deduct salaries of absent teachers.
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    Controlling attrition of graduate teachers in Misungwi district community secondary schools in Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2013) Ntalamuka, Peter
    The study investigated the strategies undertaken towards controlling attrition of graduate teachers in community secondary schools in Tanzania with a focus on Misungwi District in Mwanza Region. Five research objectives and questions guided the study. Qualitative research approach and a case study design were employed for the study. Relevant data were collected from the DSEO, School heads, graduate teachers, WECs, teachers who left teaching profession and chairperson of each secondary school boards. Simple random sampling stratified sampling and purposive sampling procedures were used to select a total of 72 respondents. Semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, focused group discussion and documentary review were deployed. The findings of the study revealed that controlling of graduate teachers’ attrition in community secondary schools requires a combination of several factors including socio-economic factors, cultural aspects, professional development and empowerment, demographic attributes, and location of individual school. In light of the research findings, it is concluded that the government and education stakeholders, have to work in partnership so as to improve teachers’ working conditions in community secondary schools. The measure would help to capture and retain graduate teachers not only within the schools but also in the teaching profession. In the same vein, moral and material support are of great value and useful in enhancing effective control of graduate teachers’ attrition in CSSs. The study recommended further that the MoEVT and local government authority should ensure that they offer best terms and conditions of service, including attractive pay package comparable to other professions requiring similar qualifications. Provision of incentives such as teaching allowance and improving good working environment like rent and hardship environment allowances together with reviewing teaching entry qualification and certification status will help controlling of teachers’ attrition in CSSs. Further research in community secondary schools could be done to find out if difference in social and economic development has any impact on graduate teachers’ attrition in CSSs.
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    Effects of primary school teachers` absenteeism on teaching and learning in Tanzania: the case of Tunduru district in Ruvuma region
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2012) Nchimbi, Flavian Nicholaus
    This study sought to explore effects of primary school teachers’ absenteeism on teaching and learning in Tunduru District council. Specific objectives included to examine the nature of teachers` absenteeism in primary schools, to assess effects of teachers` absenteeism on teaching and learning and to examine strategies used to curtail the problem of teachers` absenteeism. The study employed descriptive survey method. Data were collected from primary schools through interviews, documentary review, focus group discussions and questionnaire. Data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results from the study revealed that teachers in the sampled schools were associated with whole day absenteeism, lateness to school and early departure from school. Teacher absenteeism in the sampled schools was high, and characterized by limited teaching efforts. The nature of absenteeism was found to be associated with administrative laxity at school level, alcoholism, insufficient salaries, teachers’ shortage, long stay by teachers at one school and lack of immediate teachers` transfers. It was further found out that teachers missed more on Thursdays and Fridays. Findings revealed that teachers’ absenteeism contributed unconstructively on teaching and learning in many ways. For example reducing teachers` ability to cover prescribed teaching syllabi, encouraging pupils’ low attendance to school, poor achievements in PSLE results, breeding pupils who could not read and write, lack of continuous assessment to pupils, heavy reliance on traditional teacher-centered practices, poor classroom management and rare use of teaching aids. In due regard there is need for the government, district authority, school headteachers, school committees, and teachers themselves to work together in establishing teachers’ accountability, in order to promote teaching and learning in public primary schools.
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    Factors which influence students’ absenteeism and dropout in urban primary schools: case study of Iringa
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1981) Kimaro, S. A. M.
    The aim of the study was to establish extra-school factors which influence student absenteeism and dropout in urban primary schools. It was a case study based on Iringa town. The sample population involved in the study included 58 persistent absentees 67 regular school attenders, 21 dropouts, 7 parents of dropouts, 7 parents of regular school attenders, 6 parents of persistent absentees and 76 primary school teachers. The study involved comparing three student categories, namely persistent absentees, dropouts and regular school attenders with respect to factors which were hypothesized to be influencing absenteeism and dropout. The method employed was the survey approach making use of three data collection techniques namely documentary review, questionnaire and interview. The data collected was used to test the five previously set hypotheses and to obtain other pertinent information. The data obtained in the field confirmed all the five hypotheses on the relationship between absenteeism and dropout and family economic status; between absenteeism arid dropout among children and family ( parental ) educational level; between absenteeism and dropout and child's home living condition; between absenteeism and dropout among children and the nature of residential area in town; and between absenteeism and dropout among schools and the nature of their location in town. It was further found that the factor of persistent absenteeism among urban primary school children was related to: (i)Avoidance of manual work at school, {ii) Pupils joining groups of non-schooling peers involved in hooliganism and other delinquent actions, (iii) Pupils engaging in petty business in town, (iv) Uncertainty about salaried employment after completion of primary education. (v) Uncertainty about selection for further education after completion of primary education.(vi) Pupil hatred for school lessons. (vii.) Pupil withdrawal by their parents. The study established the following to be the causes of dropping out ( i) Pregnancy (ii} Hooliganism and juvenile delinquency. (iii ) Engagement in petty business in town ( iv ) Elopement (v) Strained relations between pupil and host-relative. The study revealed that parents send children to school with expectation that the schools would prepare the children for secondary education or for salaried employment after completion of primary schools. This study suggests that factors which influence absenteeism and dropout in urban primary schools are of economic, social and psychological nature. To reduce the present rate of absenteeism and dropouts the researcher suggests and recommends that: (i) The present primary school system should be reformed both in terms of length of course and curriculum content (ii) The Tanzania Parents Association should set national guidelines on child upbringing methods and (iii) The present regulation concerning-girls who become pregnant should be amended to allow for the reinstatement of girls sent away from school due to pregnancy.