A comparative analysis of perfomance differences between public and private advanced level secondary schools in Tanzania: the case study of Dodoma Municipality

The study was a Comparative Analysis of Performance Differences between Public and Private Advanced level secondary schools in Tanzania, the case study of sampled schools in Dodoma Municipality. The secondary schools were: Msalato, Dodoma ,Bihawana, Jamhuri, City and Donbosco Salesian. The study objective were three, namely: to examine the relationship between students entry scores for secondary education and their academic performance in Form Six both in private and public secondary school, to investigate the teaching staff qualifications in public and private A-level secondary schools, and to explore available and utilized teaching and learning resources in private and public secondary schools. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used. A total of sixty six populations were covered in the study .Documentary review, interview, and questionnaire were used as tools for data collection. The study revealed that if other factors are controlled, student’s entry qualifications, teacher’s qualifications and teaching and learning resources greatly contributed to the differences in academic performance in form Six National Examination between public and private and between the well and poorly performing schools in Dodoma Municipality. It was recommended that, educational policy makers and planners should have a long-term plan (10-20) year to train a large number of well qualified teachers. There had to be government and other educational stakeholder’s facilitation in the form of grant loans given to private secondary schools to enable them builds their capacity. Secondly, students recruited in private schools shall to meet the required qualifications upon admission. Thirdly, conducive working environment for both private and public schools are very much important in motivating teachers and hence make them maximize their teaching efforts. Motivations will be also make them retained in the teaching profession.