The determinants of enrolment patterns in higher learning institutions in Tanzania: a study of the University of Dar es Salaam and the Hubert Kairuki Memorial University

In the view of the Importance of higher education as one of the education sector that forms pillars of the economic development it was felt that there is a need to find out factors affecting enrolment in higher learning institutions in Tanzania. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate why there few Tanzanians with higher education despite efforts to increase the number of higher learning institutions in Tanzania. In order to achieve the purpose the study examined relationship between enrolment and economic, social, political, contextual and individual factors. Four tasks and hypotheses were formulated. Relevant literature was reviewed on predictors of enrolment of higher education. The sample was of 368 respondents from Dar es Salaam region. Data collected through questionnaire, interview and documentary review were analysed using content analysis and SPSS package for the descriptive statistics and correlation. The findings of the study revealed that academic competence and ability to predictors of enrolment in higher learning institutions. The findings supported the theoretical notion that prior academic skills influence enrolment. Moreover they supported the hypothesis that there is positive relationship between government funds and enrolment in the institution of higher education. It thus recommended that (1) student with sufficient prior academic skills be admitted (2) adequate funding be provided to enable qualified people to be admitted (4) more primary and secondary schools should be established to enable more people to reach higher education.