The contribution of religious organizations to the development of private secondary schools in Tanzania: the case of Mwanga and Same districts

The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution made by religious organizations to the development of private secondary schools in Tanzania taking Mwanga and Some districts as a case study. The study sought to find out what the religious organizations contribute to the private secondary schools under their management and the extent of this contribution. The contribution of religious organizations to the development of secondary schools was examined through three main sub-problems. The first sub-problem was to find out the extent to which the private secondary schools under the management of religious organizations have assisted in reducing the demand for secondary education in Mwanga and Same districts. The second was to investigate how the religious organizations have assisted the schools they manage in getting teachers, materials and equipment. Finally, the study aimed at examining the plans for future development of the private schools under religious organizations. The study involved nine private secondary schools in Mwanga and Same districts. Of these schools three were managed by Tanzania African Parents Association (TAPA) and the remaining six were under the management of religious organizations. The population sample of the study included the heads of the nine private secondary schools in Mwanga and Same districts, eighteen religious leaders officials and ex-officials of the religious organizations. The eighteen respondents were selected through stratified sampling. The findings of the study indicated that private secondary schools in Mwanga and Same districts have helped to a small extent lessen the demand for secondary education in the area. And the private secondary schools under religious organizations have contributed more because they constitute a majority of the private secondary schools in the two districts and enroll a larger number of pupils than the other private schools. The findings revealed that a number of 361 pupils (four per cent) out of 8972 who are not selected to join. form I in government secondary schools enroll in private secondary schools managed by religious organizations. In addition, it was found that these private secondary schools enroll a majority of day - pupils in the two districts. The private secondary schools under the management of religious organizations were found to have 990 day - pupils (77%) out of 1282 pupils in all the nine private secondary schools in the two districts. Nevertheless, it was revealed that the demand for secondary education in the two districts still remained high. It was found out that all the private secondary schools had a total of 119 teachers out of whom 110 were Tanzanians and nine non-Tanzanians. All the private secondary schools were found to have a shortage of thirty one teachers. It was further revealed that religious organizations help in getting teachers for their schools through offering training programmes, and utilizing their links with external religious and philanthropic organizations. It was revealed that of the private secondary schools with training programmes for teachers three were found to be managed by religious organizations. The findings also indicated that religious organizations assist the private secondary schools under their management to get materials and equipment. However this was found to be a very small contribution as most of the private secondary schools depend on fees and contributions from parents to acquire materials and equipment. Finally, the finding revealed that eight private secondary schools had plans for expansion and improvement. It was found out that for these tasks to be carried out, the majority of the schools would depend on funds generated from the schools and contributions from parents of the communities around the schools. In addition, the findings indicated that five private secondary schools would also depend on donations from external sources. It was however revealed that it was easier for a religious organisation to solicit resources than non-religious organizations. It was also discovered that two private secondary schools owned by the Tanzanian African Parents' Association (TAPA) were making plans to shift from being owned by T APA to being owned by religious organizations. On the basis of the above findings, the following recommendations have been put forward:- 1. The government should consider to provide grants-in-aid to private secondary schools so that they have a more reliable source of extra income. It will also make the government respond more to the people's aspirations for secondary education for their children. 2. The religious crganizations and all other bodies which own or manage private secondary schools should get more involved in the training of teachers by opening; teachers' training colleges. The government can also assist in this task. This will lessen the problem of teachers not only in private secondary schools but also in government schools. 3. It is suggested that private secondary schools should not be opened before they are registered. with the commissioner of education. This will ensure that the schools are well prepared to offer the education that it aims to provide. It is also hoped that the problems faxing these schools will be minimized. 4.It is recommended that further research on subjects related to this study focus on the problems that face private secondary schools so that proper means are found to solve them.