Primary school dropouts and their post-school life experience: the case of Mbeya district, Tanzania

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the primary school dropouts and their post-school life experience in Mbeya district. The study used a qualitative approach involving a sample of eighteen school dropout, one district officer, four heads of school and four class teachers, twelve parents of school dropouts and four village leaders in Mbeya district. Several research instruments were used, including questionnaires, interviews and the review of school records. The content of such data is summarized in a narrative format. A critical analysis of documentary sources and interpretation of data were done systematically and presented through tables and figures. The findings revealed that boys were much more affected than girls. After they dropped out of school they engaged in different activities as life experiences, including employment in crop production, animal herding, doing household activities, stealing and production while others were engaged in selling in kiosks and making local brew. Moreover, the study indicated that through life experience dropouts obtained various skills such as agricultural, domestic, tailoring and business skills. Finally, the school dropouts were faced with various challenges that were caused by lack of knowledge and skills which meant that they could produce only a very little and of low quality, so school dropouts are still working in jobs that required no qualification. Due to this situation school dropouts still end up being paid low wages, working long hours and being involved in hazardous situations such as drug abuse and sex trade that make many of them end up being poor, or get jailed for stealing and death due to HIV AIDS. On the basis of this study, it is recommended that parents should provide all the basic needs required in school, both direct and indirect costs, to motivate their children. They should follow up their children’s progress in academics, as well as concerning their behavior and school attendance.