A critical assessment of the ordinary level secondary schools curriculum in relation to youth employment: case studies of secondary schools in Dar es Salaam region

This study assessed the Ordinary level secondary school s curriculum in relation to youth employment in Dar es Salam region. It was conducted in three secondary schools namely Forodhani in Ilala District, Tegeta in Kinondoni District, and Jitegemee in Temeke district. The study involved total of 95 respondents comprising of 40 Form Three and Four students, 20 Form Four leavers in the previous years, 30 secondary school teachers, three head teachers and one officials from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) and one official from Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE). The study findings indicated that many Form Three and Form Four students studied between seven and eight subjects. They preferred art subjects to sciences mainly because of the career they wanted to pursue ion the future. While students confirmed that they had heard of the current changes in ordinary level secondary education curriculum. They affirmed that the said level of education did not prepare youth for direct employment as was void of skills` training. The study gave recommendations to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, curriculum developers and to the secondary school teachers on matters related to incorporation of necessary skills and training that will increase possibility of employment to ordinary level secondary school graduates. Further recommendations are on encouraging students to take science subjects as they are demanded in labour market as compared to arts subjects.