Information needs and seeking behavior of pupils with visual impairments: the case study of Buigiri Primary School in Dodoma Region

This study aimed at investigating the information needs and seeking-behaviour of pupils with visual impairments at Buigiri Primary school in Dodoma Region. Specific objectives were to identify the information needs of pupils with impairments, skills needed to cope with visual impairment, the sources of information used, information seeking behavior and problems encountered by pupils with visual impairments. This a study was basically qualitative and data was mainly collected through interviews. Major findings of this study revealed that the main information needs of pupils were academic and health information. Major sources of information used by pupils with visual impairments were teachers, library, Braille books and colleges. The pupils’ information seeking behavior involves purposeful information seeking because of the need to complete assignments. Pupils with visual impairments face many problems such as an acute shortage of Braille books, inaccessible reference materials, lack of specialized equipment and the poor status of the library which does not support them to seek and access information independently. Also, special education teachers were not given much incentive. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the Tanzanian Government needs to: increase the budget for the administration of inclusive education, build modern school libraries that are well equipped with accessible resources and ICT facilities which would empower pupils with visual impairments to access information independently, easily, accurately and in a timely manner. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MOEVT) should ensure a change of curriculum go hand in hand with production of appropriate teaching-learning materials. Also, the MOEVT should pay special teaching allowance to motivate teachers.