Effects of walking long distance school on pupils’ enrolment in Tanzania primary schools: the case of Kisarawe District in the Coast Region

The study sought to investigate the effects of walking long distances to school on pupil’s enrolment in primary schools. Moreover specifically, the study attempted to answer three questions: (i) to what extent did pupils walk long distances to and from school (ii) how did walking long distances to and from school affect enrolment of pupils in primary schools (iii) what measures need to take to mitigate the problem of pupils’ enrolment due to the effect of walking long distances to school? The study was carried out in the Coast region; involving 175 respondents from ten government primary schools in Kisarawe district. It was a case study which was done through document review, observations, personal interviews and focus group discussions. The methodology of the study was a qualitative approach. Findings of this study revealed the following. First, there was evidence that pupils had to walk long distances to and from school in all primary schools included I the study. Secondly, walking long distances to and from school had negative impact on the pupil’s enrolment in primary schools. This implies that the government and other educational stakeholders have to find a solution in order to minimize the walking distance for pupils. In the light of the findings, it is recommended, among others, that more schools should be established in order to increase access to education for all children in the society.