The impact of refugees on basic education development in Tanzania: experience from Kasulu district, Kigoma region

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of refugees on basic education development in Tanzania focusing on Kasulu District, Kigoma Region. The study was guided by two research objectives: (i) to investigate the effects of refugees on basic education development, and (ii) to establish strategies adopted in coping with the effects of refugees on basic education development. The study employed a qualitative approach informed by a case study design. Data was drawn from two wards of Kasulu District, namely; Nyakitonto and Nyamidaho. The study sample comprised 53 informants. The categories of the sample were DEO, WECs, VEOs, HPSs, primary school teachers, pupils and community members. Data were collected through interviews and documentary search. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis guided by research objectives. Findings of the study revealed that the impacts of refugees on basic education development were more evident in schools and community members bordering the refugee camps. Beneficiaries of basic education benefited from presence of refugees in different areas related to schools, pupils, health, administrative and economic effects. On the other hand, presence of refugees negatively impacted the basic education development in areas such as pupils’ truancy and dropouts, insecurity issues, outbreak of diseases, drying up of rivers, unrestricted refugees movement and food shortage. Moreover, findings indicated that administrative efforts, drilling water wells, strengthening defence, establishment of neighbourhood meetings, reforestation and afforestation, and shifting of the union market were the efforts employed in minimizing educational costs associated with presence of refugees. The study concluded that schools and community members that bordered refugee camps were more affected due to prevalence of close interactions between them. Pregnancies and pupils’ dropout were amongst the impacts of refugees on basic education development. The study recommends that Government authorities have to perform the followings: MOHA have to relocate refugees’ camps a distant away from schools and community members in future refugeeism so as to minimize close interaction between refugees and host communities. In addition, MoEVT has to reconsider the laws governing pregnant pupil’s expulsion from schools so that they may be allowed to resume their studies after delivery.