The teaching and learning environment community secondary school in Tanzania: a case study of the community secondary in Mwanga District in Kilimanjaro regions

The study is about the “teaching and learning environments in community secondary schools: the case of four schools in Mwanga district in Kilimanjaro region. The research sample involved 102 respondents which included 68 students, 30 teachers and 4 heads of the schools. Data were collected using questionnaires, observation schedule and checklist. The findings show that availability of textbooks was not as critical as the researcher had expected. On the average, students share books in groups of 2-5 where they were reported available. However, both teachers and students were unware of the titles and authors of the textbooks in use. Likewise, except for one teachers at Changaja, they were unaware of the syllabus in use and did not have copies. The study also found out that libraries were not available. Students depend entirely on teacher’s notes. The use of teaching aids was rare other than when inspectors visit the schools. Other findings show lack or shortage of laboratories, apparatus and specialized rooms for teaching. Also some of teachers do not conduct remedial classes. In these schools the rate of absenteeism was found to be low and girls and boys were treated equality in terms of motivation and distribution of questions during teaching. Finally, the study revealed that most teachers and students in the studied community secondary schools prefer to be transferred to other schools. From the findings above, one can conclude that, overall the teaching and learning environment in the studied schools is not conducive enough.