Factors affecting low enrollment and high dropout rates in post primary technical centres (1975-1986): case study of Mara region

The study looked into the causes of low enrollment and high drop-out rates in post primary technical centres on the Tanzania mainland through a case study of Mara region. The study posed two research questions:- Why has there been persistent low enrollment trend, and high drop-out in PPTC's before completing the course? The hypotheses posed were; first, the centres with qualified and skilled teachers/instructors and with adequate teaching and learning facilities enjoyed higher enrollment and retention of participants; second, the centres where there were no differences in perception between the programme designers on the one hand, and its participants, implementers and host community on the other, regarding the objectives, content and duration of the programme would have higher enrollment and retention of participants. The study involved a population of 8p individuals, comprising 'education officials, teachers/instructors of the programme, parents, 'fundis' and actual and prospective students of the PPTC's. Questionnaires, interviews, observation and documentary reviews were the techniques used to collect information. The population sample was obtained through stratified random sampling. Computation of the data was mainly based on percentages. The findings of the study indicated that; the presence of skilled and qualified teachers/instructors with adequate learning and teaching materials did not necessarily lead to high enrollment and high retention of students. In addition it was found out that even in those centres where the technical content of the PPTC programme was relevant to community activities, enrollment was low and the drop-out rate was high. Also, where the programme objectives were not relevant in the sense of there being differences in perception between the designers and the participants, implementers and community, Enrollment was low and the drop-out rate high. The two year period set for the programme was differently perceived by respondents. The majority wanted it to be prolonged. Subjective perceptions tapped from the respondents concerning the problem of low enrollment and high drop-out rates indicated that there were specific problems and general problems. The number of centre specific problems increased with the size of the sample; .and the causes of the problems considered in isolation did not yield to valid generalisations. In the light of these study findings it was recommended that the Ministry of Education should restructure the PPTCs to enhance supervision and control, aspects which might have contributed to low enrollment and high drop-out. It is also recommended that PPTC's be detached from the formal primary school programme and should be enriched with productive ventures and innovation so as to attract enrollment. A call is also made to establish a fixed procedure for enrolling students in order to avoid the laxity which may have contributed to low enrollment and high drop-out. Lastly, future research should meet the following criteria: observation of larger samples, more detailed examination of administration of the centres, inclusion of other parallel processes associated with the factors which are to be tested, employ diversity of techniques.