The impact of single-parent families on children's care for secondary education in Tanzania: the case of Kinondoni municipal, Dar es Salaam-region

The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the impact of single- parenthood on children's welfare with specific reference to pursuing secondary education. Purposely, the study examined problems which children from single and married families face or encounter in relation to academic performance, behavioural traits, economic, psychological, psychosocial and legal problems in attaining secondary education. Furthermore, the study intended to examine the difference in temps of parenting between married and single-parents in relation to children's education support. The study reveals that children from single-parent families are the most affected with various problems in attaining secondary education. Some of the problems include running of family small and medium business enterprises, looking for temporary employment opportunities, lack of parental love, poor participation in decision making over mailers affecting their livelihood. Likewise, single-parents were found to be the most troubled in supporting their children's education. Psychological, psychosocial, legal, economic and cultural problems facing parents transcend ta children, which in tum affect their secondary studies. The study was conducted in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam Region in eleven (1 1) registered secondary schools allocated in twenty seven (27) wards. The study involved (6) A-Level and (5) 0-Level secondary schools. A total of (97) respondent took part in this study through questionnaires, interviews, observation and Focus Group Discussion. The study recommends that the Government through the relevant ministries should join hands with NGOs, charitable groups and other International Agencies to work towards the grassroots in the country, to support children from single-parent families who are unable to afford secondary and further studies,