An investigation of students’ study habits in ordinary secondary schools in Tanzania: a case of Kinondoni District in Dar es Salaam

The study investigated on students’ study habits in sampled Ordinary level secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. Specifically, the study sought to disclose students’ awareness of their study habits, the common types of study habits used by students, the most preferred study habits and finally examined the challenges they were facing in developing and using the study habits of their interest. This study employed a survey design. It was conducted in four schools with a sample of 345 students. The study used purposive and systematic sampling techniques to get the required sample. Data were collected through questionnaires and focus group discussions. Findings revealed that 327 (94.78%) of students who were involved in the study were aware of their study habits. Also the study disclosed that the common study habits that students had were hobbies, recreational, concentration and deviational. Furthermore, concentration study habit was mostly preferred compared to other study habits. The challenges which students were facing in developing a particular study habit of their interest were: language barrier, lack of required study materials, noise pollution in schools and lack of conducive place at home and or at school to conduct studies. However, students acknowledged that they had their own ways of overcoming these challenges, for example looking out for a quite place at school and go home late after ensuring a thorough studying. The study concluded that reading and study skills program have to be developed in secondary schools so as to build good students study habit attitudes. Also, favourable and encouraging environment need to be created at home and or school to let students nurture their study habits. Lastly parents, teachers and other educational stakeholders are responsible for recognizing their input in facilitating students to meet their study habit prerequisites. Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training should initiate the studying programs in secondary schools so that they could facilitate students in developing effective study habits.