Cost-sharing in financing secondary education in Kasulu district – Tanzania its nature and challenges

The study investigated the nature and challenges of cost-sharing in financing secondary education in Community Secondary Schools, using Kasulu District as a case study. The objectives of the study were to identify the nature of cost-sharing incurred by parents or guardians in financing secondary education, to examine the rationale for cost-sharing in financing secondary education, to investigate the challenges that hinder cost-sharing in secondary schools and to examine the effects of cost-sharing on secondary school students. The study employed qualitative approach and a case study research design. The sample involved 121 respondents, namely: District Secondary Education Officer, school heads, classroom teachers, parents and students. Data were collected through questionnaires, interview and documentary review and analysed through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16.0 and content analysis. The findings revealed that the kind of cost-sharing incurred by parents or guardians in Community Secondary Schools differed from one school to another. Other contributions were higher than school fees. Cost-sharing increased school income. However, the collected school fees and other contributions were not enough for improvement of school infrastructures. Moreover, unreliable family income, low parental education and unstable parental occupation were the major challenges that hinder effective implementation of cost-sharing in secondary schools. Cost-sharing led to absenteeism, dropout, low enrolment and low completion rates. Low completion rates, absenteeism and dropout rates were high, especially in rural secondary schools where students from low income households were more affected by cost-sharing. The study concludes that cost-sharing has made secondary education not affordable to many low income families, leading to increased inequalities. The study recommends that more financial assistance from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training is needed to the children from poor households and orphans to ensure their full participation and completion of their education cycle. Establishment of school income generating projects is likewise essential in order to increase school incomes. These projects will also help students to increase their incomes for those who can initiate them after schooling. Moreover, parents have to diversify their sources of income-devise other means than perennial agriculture that much rely on the changing climate, so that they may afford meeting cost-sharing, hence allow their children to positively participate in secondary education. Furthermore, parents or guardians have to invest more in education of their children and avoid the current culture of contributing more to ceremonial activities and funerals.