Parents’ attitude towards community secondary schools in Turiani division, Mvomero District

This study investigate parents’ attitude towards community secondary schools (CSSs) in a situation where CSSs were increasing at the detriment of quality education. The study answered four questions: (i) what are parents’ opinion about CSSs in the study area? (ii) is there a statistically significant difference between parents’ opinion towards CSSs across sex, education and occupation? (iii) Is there a statistically significant association between determinants of parents’ decisions to enroll or not to enroll their children in CSSs and sex? And (iv) Does DSSs meets parents’ expectations. This study was conducted in Turiani division, Mvomero district; it ninvolved Lusanga, Murrad Saddiq and Nassoro Seif CSSs. 121 respondents of which 90 were parents around the three schools were interviewed. The study methodology was largely quantitative and to a lesser extent qualitative. Questionnaire, likert scale, semi structured interviews and documents were used in the study. The findings show that majority of the parents’ hold negative attitude towards CSSs. There was a statistically significant difference between parents’ opinion and education (F=9.262, p-0.000) and occupations (F=5.992, p=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between male and female opinion towards CSSs. Negative perceptions deters parents from enrolling their children in CSSs. The CSSs have not met parents’ expectations. It is recommended that the government should improve existing CSSs instead of building new schools in each ward.