Community Attitude Towards Religious Secondary Schools In Tanzania: The Case Of Lushoto District In Tanga Region

ABSTRACT

The study investigated the community attitude on religious private secondary schools in Lushoto District of Tanga Region. Specifically, it explored community perceptions on the effectiveness of religious affiliated secondary schools, examined the community motivational factors towards religious based secondary schools and determined teaching and learning strategies employed by religious private secondary schools. The study employed qualitative research approach with some elements of quantitative approach, where cross -sectional research design was used. Social Constructivism and Attribution theories were used to guide all the decisions made in this study. Data were collected from 85 respondents using unstructured and semi-structured interviews, observation, documentary review and focus group discussion. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data by computing frequencies and percentages by using SPSS version 16.0.

Findings of this study revealed that the community has positive perceptions on the effectiveness of religious private secondary schools. Availability of teaching and learning materials with highly committed teachers and students’ self-efforts found in religious private secondary schools foster high academic achievements. Improvements of school infrastructure, including adequate classrooms with enough facilities, conducive outside surroundings and giving students a lot of academic tasks are the strategies that religious private secondary schools employ to ensure outstanding performance. The study ends by recommending that the Government of Tanzania should endeavour to improve their schools by adopting the strategies used by religious owned secondary schools. It may even collaborate with the schools to understand how to improve the schools better.