Analysis of the role of school committees in controlling school absenteeism and dropout in public primary schools: a case Study of Handeni District, in Tanga Region

The study sought to analyse the role of school committee in controlling school absenteeism and dropout in Public Primary Schools. It was carried out in Handeni district, Tanga region. It was a case study, involving 103 respondents from Public Primary Schools. The instruments of data collection were interviews, focus group discussion, observation, questionnaire and documentary review. Findings showed that the role and responsibilities of School Committee in handling pupils’ absenteeism and dropout was minimal. It was found that poverty, distance to school, water scarcity and repetition were the causes of school absenteeism and dropout. The challenges which were being faced by School Committees in tackling school absenteeism and dropout were lack of seminars, lack of adequate education qualification and inconsistency of some members decisions made in the meetings. There was also a laxity of some parents who were unwilling to provide their children with basic needs, failure of village governments to take the legal action against pupils dropping out from school and be engaged in criminality. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has to conduct seminars to School Committees and pay them a certain amount of allowances so as to motivate them; establish vocational schools in rural areas and revive adult education in order to avoid dropouts. Moreover, sustainable school meals need to be provided in school in order to make children less tempted to move outside the school.