Girls’ workload in households and its effects on their primary schooling

The purpose of the study was to investigate effects of girls’ responsibilities in households on their primary schooling. Three research objectives guided the study: to explore the kinds of girls’ responsibilities in households; to determine effects of girls’ responsibilities and to suggest measures to minimize effects of girls’ responsibilities on their primary schooling. The study was conducted in Njombe district in Iringa region. The study employed qualitative approach and in particular employing a case study design. Data were collected through documentary review, interviews and observations from 26 respondents. Purposive sampling procedure was used to obtain the target respondents and then data were analysed qualitatively. The study revealed the following: firstly, school girls performed economic activities such as carrying potato bags/wood, petty trade, child caring; and domestic chores like fetching water/firewood, cooking and caring for the sick people. Secondly, girls’ responsibilities affected their classroom participation, attendance and school completion. Thirdly, measures such as direct parental accountability, provision of school needs and teachers’ in-service training into gender responsive pedagogy could minimize effects of girls’ responsibilities to their primary schooling. On the basis of findings from the study, it is recommended that the government of Tanzania should provide programmes on importance of girls’ education to rural communities. The government should equip families with means that would enable them to raise their economy and hence will minimize the prevailing poverty. Also there is need to sensitize community members to participate in educational matters.