Sulayman, Hamdun I.2019-09-122020-01-082019-09-122020-01-081995Sulayman, H. I. (1995) Factors contributing to crises in students' moral character and schools of Tanzania: the case study of Dar es Salaam region, Masters’ dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspx)http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4258Available in print formThe main purpose of the study was to find out the causes and factors contributing to crises in student's moral character and ethical values in the secondary schools of Tanzania. Ten secondary schools were chosen for investigation. Data was collected through questionnaires, interview schedules, documentary review and observation. Questionnaires were administered to teachers and students while interviews were held with 295 students, 18 parents, 64 teachers and 6 educational officials and inspectors. The findings of this research have revealed that moral character and ethical values of many students at secondary school level are negatively influenced by the environmental factors like school environment, families, peer groups, teachers, the community in general and social cultural and economic milieu. The findings have shown that the spirit of moral character and ethical values are not the dominant feature in all text books on different subjects. However, it was found that the arts subjects have some contribution to the moral character and ethical values when compared to other subjects. Findings also indicated that, time in secondary schools is misused due to shortage of school facilities, and that, under the pretext of transport problems or attending the private tuition programmes, many students roam aimlessly at bus stops and involve themselves into bad habits and gangs. To some respondents poverty was indicated as another significant factor which contributes negatively to students' moral character and ethical values. It was further noted that both television programmes and immoral video shows have increased disciplinary problems among the youth. In view of the findings, it was recommended that, the ministry of Education and Culture should sustain the boarding secondary school system in order to avoid the disciplinary problems and misuse of time among students. The Ministry should also establish a unit to detect cases like drug use and abuse among students and pregnancy among girl students. Apart from this, the ministry should start drug prevention education subject in secondary schools. Also the curriculum developers have to make sure that spirit of moral and ethical values are the dominant features in all text books. Pictures drawings and slogans which insist on or condemn certain behaviours can be used. An appropriate censorship of films and video cassettes should be exercised regularly by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the casinos and video centres which display immoral films should be banned. Finally, the Ministry of Education and the authority in private secondary schools must stop private tuition programmes by providing secondary schools with enough well trained and well paid teachers, as well as good teaching facilities. With regards to further research, it was recommended that studies be made to compare ordinary secondary schools and seminaries to find out how the students are different in term of their moral character and ethical values. Also studies could be made on the influence of mass media on the students’ moral character and ethical values to examine ways in which their political aspects can be enhanced and exploited positively.enStudents ethicsEducation secondaryDar es Salaam regionTanzaniaThesis