THE Struggle to improve quality of public secondary education in Tanzania

Rethinking on the culture of maintenance and rehabilitation of furniture and infrustructure

Abstract

This study investigated the culture of maintenance and rehabilitation of furniture and infrastructure among the head of schools in public secondary schools in central Tanzania. The study investigated how leadership culture and political influences affect the culture of school maintenance. The investigation was broadened to include other factors that influence the culture of school maintenance. The study was cross-sectional. It involved qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were randomly collected from seven districts of Dodoma region. The researcher used structured questionnaires to collect data from Heads of school. About 33 Heads of school were randomly obtained across the region. A descriptive research design was adopted in aligning up with the purposes of the study. The design is a fact-finding and interpretation of findings is valid. The design gives the flexibility of using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The findings in both approaches reveal that the culture of maintenance and rehabilitation is directly influenced by both leadership culture and politics. Descriptive analysis revealed that factors such as shortage of funds were the major factors that were reported in all schools regardless of their nature. The study also revealed a lack of training for school management teams and minimal involvement of the community. Repairing was revealed to be very expensive. Overcrowded classes, ignorance, and negligence of students were other findings. Qualitative analysis focused on the factors discussed in the descriptive analysis. Additionally, qualitative analysis reveals that leadership culture and politics have direct effects on the culture of school maintenance. The study recommends regular training to leaders and politicians at all levels in respective areas because these are in touch with the schools and the nature of community members. The recommendation also notes the importance of regular audit and site visits by administrators to each school. There should be established a mobile repairing and rehabilitation unit which will visit all schools to do undertake this work at affordable costs and timely. Lastly, there is a need to recheck the involvement of the community and micro-politicians in school maintenance and the proportions of capitation grants need to be rechecked to give flexibility on spending.