Engagement of school committees in monitoring teaching and learning activities in public primary schools in Kigoma/Ujiji municipality.

This study examines the engagement of school committees in monitoring teaching and learning activities in public primary schools in Kigoma/Ujiji municipality. Specifically it examines the forms of school committees’ engagement in monitoring teaching and learning activities in primary schools; the challenges facing them in monitoring teaching and learning in schools; and the adequacy of policies, directives and provisions, facilitating school committee engagement in monitoring committee activities. The study was conducted in Kigoma/Ujiji Municipal Council in Kigoma Region, Tanzania. The sample involved a total of 62 respondents, including municipal education officer (n=1), ward education coordinators (n=5), school committee members (n=24), and teachers (n=32) whom were selected by using purposeful sampling techniques. The study employed a qualitative method approach with multiple case designs. The data were collected using interview, FGDs, and documentary review. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. The findings with regard to the forms of school committees engagement in monitoring teaching and learning, the study revealed that, school committees engaged in school activities through various ways like mobilizing the community to participate in constructing school infrastructure, participated in maintaining discipline in schools, fundraising to support schools and making sure that they monitored pupils and teachers attendance. The findings with regard to challenges facing school committees unveiled the factors inhibiting school committees to engage in monitoring teaching and learning in schools which include; limited education to some of school committee members, different political ideologies among school committee members, inadequate resources and lack of knowledge on rules and regulations guiding school committees. Finally, with regard to adequacies of provisions guiding performance of school committees, the study unveiled some discrepancies, like directives which contradict with the law of education and inadequate training on policies and laws. It was concluded that school committees, regardless their discrepancies were the important link between school and community; they played a great role in monitoring teaching and learning by making the society aware on the importance of education and give their contributions.