Rural children and constraints to secondary education in Tanzania : a case study of children who completed primary education in Msimbu village, Msimbu ward in Sungwi division of Kisarawe district, coast region

Abstract

This study looks at the challenges facing Tanzania in her development of modem institutions in the economic, social, cultural, and politicai fields. The main focus is on formal education and the role of education in a globalizing world. Secondary education is important and a right to Tanzanian children. It increases their knowledge and prepares children for skills and professions. The idea is to have both a skilled and professional population, to act and interact in the process of modernization. The study looks at understanding constraints among rural children in transition to the lower secondary education and the effects of those constraints. This is because majority of population reside in rural areas with inadequate supply of social and economic services compared to urban areas. On this note children are the foundation of building highly skilled manpower. Rural children are at risk of being left behind in the process of modernization and this is a source of future social problems. This study is based on a qualitative case study; with in-depth interviews as the main technique for gathering data from interviewees and infomants. Secondary data has als0 been collected from different institutions. Tape recorder; field notebook; and field diary were the main tools used for data recording. The analysis of findings show that, the main constraints to lower secondary education are; low primary performance and limited places in secondary schools; low family motivation and economy level; traditions and norms; gender discrimination; motivation of children and youth careers; modernization and change of life style; migration; diseases; and low awareness of the importance of secondary education. Conclusion from the findings shows that it is not secondary education done that can bring development. Other improvement and changes are needed in the economic, sociai and cultural field.