Effects of transport on students participation in urban public secondary schooling in kinondoni district

This study investigated means of transport and their effects on students’ access to and participation in urban public secondary schooling in Kinondoni District Tanzania. Specifically, the study examined the effects of means of transport used by students, determined the effects of the means of transport on students’ attendance in school as well as found out the ways to resolve transportation problem for students. The study employed qualitative research approach informed with the case study design. The study was conducted in three public secondary schools in Kinondoni District. A total sample of 81 participants, whereby 27 of them were taken from each school in the categories was used. The interview, focus group discussion, documentary review and observation were used as data collection methods. The findings showed that students used different means of transport such as public transport, bicycle, motorcycle, rickshaws and private cars to and from school. However, majority of students in public secondary schools were facing critical challenges related to means of transport to and from school as they depended much on commuter buses. Secondly, the transport problems that faced students’ negatively affected their access to and participation in schooling. The study also revealed that, transport hardship to students caused irregular attendance to school, other students engaged in undesirable sexual relationships with drivers or conductors, as a result failed to complete secondary education. Thirdly, to overcome the problems associated with transport it was suggested that hostels for students should be built, schools should have their own school buses as well as introduction of transport policy for students. Therefore, it is recommended that school management should develop strict guidelines for student attendance and control factors that could hinder a student from attending school on a regular basis.