Challenges Faced In Implementing Free Primary Education In Tanzania: A Case Study Of Mafinga Town Council

ABSTRACT

This study explored the challenges faced in implementing free primary education in Tanzania. Mafinga Town Council was used as case study where four (4) wards, i.e. one school from each ward, were used. The qualitative approach was predominantly used with few element of quantitative approach. The study is based on the Human Capital Theory and Structural-Functionalism and the data were collected from sixty (60) participants through open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interview guidelines. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis and the quantitative part was analysed manually to develop frequencies and percentages. The analysis and interpretation of the data revealed that public primary schools in Tanzania face a lot of challenges in implementation of the FPE. These include inadequate funds, overcrowded classrooms, shortage of teachers, and delayed disbursement of funds and poor knowledge of parents towards the policy. Categorically, it was revealed that the teaching and learning environment in Tanzania public primary schools were affected at large. These, consequently, lead to poor performance of the pupils. This study, therefore, recommends that the Government should prepare conducive teaching and learning environment in all public primary schools. This could be done through motivating teachers, purchasing adequate teaching-learning resources. Moreover, the Government should make sure that the allocated fund is adequate and reaches the beneficiaries at the right time. Finally, the stakeholders should be sensitized on their role in the implementing and sustaining the free primary education in their local communities.