How Care Given To Orphans Affects Their Primary Schooling: The Case Of Iwawa Ward In Makete District

ABSTRACT

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the kind of care that is given to

orphans in Iwawa Ward, in Makete district, and how that care affects the orphans‟

primary schooling. The study was guided by the following research questions: Who are

the caregivers of the orphaned pupils? What kind of care is given to the orphans?, How

that care affects the orphans‟ primary schooling? What should be done to improve

orphans‟ primary schooling? The study employed a case study design. The location of

the study was Iwawa Ward in Makete District and the target population was the

orphans in primary schools in this ward. The two sample schools selected for this study

were school A and school B representing schools situated in urban and rural areas

respectively. The study involved 12 orphaned pupils, 6 caregivers and 4 primary school

teachers. The study employed interview as the main method of collecting data. The

findings of the study revealed that 87% of caregivers are close relatives. Others are

distant relatives, and non relatives. The kind of care that is given to orphans includes

provision of financial support, security, food, a place to live, medical care, clothing,

teaching and learning materials. The findings also revealed that provision of enough

care to the orphaned pupils enables them to be enrolled in schools, to have regular

school attendance, and to build confidence and good behaviour. But inadequate

provision of care leads to orphans‟ late or no enrolment in schools, having strong

emotions, poor academic performance, truancy, dropping out of schools, delinquency,

failure to join secondary schools, and becoming street children. From these findings,

suggestions are made to family members and the community in general, to select

caregivers basing on their ability to give proper care. The government is advised to

make Secondary Education free and for all. This will enable orphaned pupils and other

pupils from poor families to access it.