Swai, Cecilia Peter2020-04-112020-04-112010Swai, C.P (2010) Vulnerable children’s access and participation in secondary education in rufiji and mkuranga districts, Tanzania: challenges and opportunities, Master dissertation University of Dares Salaam. Dar es Salaam.http://41.86.178.5:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/9282Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAFLB1607.S9)Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, this study investigated opportunities and challenges, for vulnerable children in accessing secondary education. Specifically, the study addressed opportunities, which have been availed by Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP), challenges and effects of school costs on participation of vulnerable children in secondary education. The study employed descriptive research strategy. Nine secondary schools selected from Mkuranga and Rufiji Districts were involved in the study. The study involved 81 students, 40 teachers, six school heads, 21 parents and two District Education Officers. The study revealed that construction of new community schools and provision of scholarships to vulnerable children are the most important factors that have accelerated opportunities for vulnerable children to access secondary education. Nevertheless, several challenges, which still constrain the participation of vulnerable children in accessing secondary education, were revealed. They include poverty, lack of provision of school meals, socio-cultural values and traditional beliefs, which caused some students to drop out from school or had poor participation in secondary education. Given that Tanzania is committed to achieve goals of Education For All, there is an urgent need to resolve existing barriers that limit vulnerable children’s access to Secondary Education. Several recommendations have proposed pertaining to aspects on secondary education provision to vulnerable children in Tanzania.enParticipationOpportunitiesThesis