Critical comparative analysis of socio-culture and economic transformation of Tanzania as reflected in Kiswahili textbooks for secondary schools

This study was intended to compare textbooks used in teaching Kiswahili to Form One in Tanzania. The purpose was to find out whether there has been any shift in the way the authors have reflected the socio- cultural and economic transformation in Tanzania since independence. The study takes the reader in a historical journey from the Tanzania of ujamaa (African socialism) to the present Tanzania. The objectives of this study were to trace the socio-cultural and economic changes that have taken place in Tanzania since independence and make systematic comparison on how that is reflected in secondary school textbook used in a country. The study used a survey design, a combination three instruments namely group discussion questionnaire, interview. The findings reveal' eat changes in the political sphere in Tanzania for the past forty years or so. These changes have affected provision of education in general and textbook publishing particular. Currently, textbook publishing is carried out in the conventional way where authors write, publishers produce and schools buy. Research approach in this study used qualitative focus group discussion and questionnaire, designed with an interview guide questions. The research has helped to bring the surface several issues. Within the books analyzed however, there does not seem to be significant change except in the contextualized examples used. Upon studying these examples, it was revealed that the transformation that took place after independence affected educational policy making in that several policies had to be changed to allow smooth implementation of the same. The study concludes that main points that emerge are the emphasis put on education as a prerequisite for national and individual freedom and survival. The authors have reflected the transformation in the books only positively and tried as much as possible to avoid issues that may embarrass the Government. Noted as well was the issue of globalization which brought in commodization of education and the flow of foreign publishers to compete for the country's textbook market, Since the foreign publishers are more experienced, the future of local publishers is endangered.