Factors affecting quality of teacher education in Tanzania: a case of teachers colleges in Morogoro region

This study investigated factors affecting quality of teacher education in Tanzania. The sample comprised four (4) principals 48 tutors and 200 student teachers. Total respondents were 252. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The Area of study was Morogoro region. The data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, and documentary review. Qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis while quantitative data were computed into simple percentages. The major findings showed that education provided was of low quality. There were a number of under qualified tutors. Despite good overall tutor student ratio of 1:19, there was a shortage of tutors especially in the areas of specialization, such as science subjects. The load was too heavy especially in science subjects. Inadequate teaching and learning materials limited tutors’ innovation in teaching methods and caused some student teachers to perform poorly in their examination. There was also lack of physicals facilities such as laboratories, libraries and houses for tutors. Finally, Poor motivation for tutors and unstable student teachers academic background lower education quality. It is recommended that special are provided incentives for tutors, construction of adequate physical facilities is made, improvement of teaching and learning materials situation is done and admission of student teachers with good academic background is adhered to. It was further recommended that there is need to carry out studies on the effect of student teachers extra curriculum activities and how they affect academic performance and education quality.