Factors influencing low participation of catholic nuns in higher education in Tanzania

The purpose of this study was to assess factors influencing low participation of Tanzanian Catholic nuns in higher education. Specific attention was directed to explore those factors from four congregations which were : Huruma from Northern Zone, Chipole from Southern Zone, Kipalapala from Western Zone and Mgolole from Eastern Zone of Tanzania. The study collected its data through questionnaires, interviews, documentary review and observations. The respondents included sisters from the sampled congregations and hierarchy members who are related to the service of the church in these congregations. The findings revealed that low participation of Catholic nuns in higher education in Tanzania still existed due to prevalence of traditional culture of the Church whose missionaries brought the hierarchy system, which trains Tanzanian sisters to just pray and perform simple tasks. Sisters were not allowed to study and upgrade themselves unless their superiors permitted them. The authority of the Church, which follows a patriarchy system, was another factor. The outdated traditions in the convent, which train nuns to be humble and to keep them doing domestic works in society was yet another factor. The findings also revealed that the organization of the congregations in Tanzania lacks mutual consultation between superior generals and their bishops. Even heads of the congregations lack inner initiatives to promote and capacitate sisters up to higher education levels because the hierarchy system of the Church continues to educate women in domestic subjects so that they may be able to take care of the welfare of the members of the family unlike men whose education is for the sake of all social development and performance in public affairs. In the light of these findings the study recommended that the superiors should modify past regulations and rules of their convents and form new models of life that are based on education and social needs. The conference of Mother Superiors and Religious Women Superiors Association of Tanzania (RWSAT) should also establish procedures that can assess each congregation on how sisters are motivated to study in higher education. The Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) is recommended to formulate clear policy on financing sponsorship of Tanzanian sisters for study in higher education. There is a need for bishops and mother superiors to have joint conferences where they can discuss modem strategies, which can improve the education of Catholic nuns in Tanzania. The study recommends two areas for further research: (a) How mother superiors can be effective in improving sisters’ enrollment in higher education . (b) The impact of efforts by bishops on mobilizing and upgrading nuns to Study in high education in their dioceses.