Impact Of Fee Free Primary Education On Pupils’ Enrollment And School Physical Facilities In Ikungi District Of Singida Region In Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the impact of Fee Free Primary Education (FFPE) on pupils‟

enrollment and school physical facilities in Ikungi District of Singida Region in

Tanzania. Specifically, the study examined the impact of FFPE on pupils‟

enrollment, determined availability of physical facilities as well as exploring the

school strategic responses to the problem of inadequate physical facilities. The study

employed a cross-sectional survey design using a mixed research approach. Data

were collected from 135 respondents sampled through purposive and simple random

sampling techniques through questionnaires, interviews, documentary review and

direct observation. Data analysis was done using Social Package for Social Science

Studies (SPSS), version 22, and Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA).

The findings of the study showed that, in 2015, the enrollment in all schools under

the study ranged from 60 to 90 pupils, while it ranged from 70 to 115 in 2016, 71 to

120 in 2017; and from 91 to 173 pupils in 2018. Thus, it was concluded that the

implementation of FFPE has a positive impact on pupils‟ enrollment in Ikungi

District primary schools. Conversely, FFPE has negative impact on school physical

facilities in Ikungi District because the schools have classroom-pupils ratio ranging

from1:66 to 1:101; pit latrine-pupils ratio range from 1:41 to 1:461 for boys and

1:46 to 1:140 for girls; desks pupils ration range from 1:4 to1:7 and teacher pupils

ratio range from 1:40 to 1:134. However, the schools have devised some strategies

to cope with the shortage of facilities, including having two shifts in a day and

collaborating with the society and parents to construct more physical facilities.

Following these findings, it is recommended for proportional allocation and

improvement of the school physical facilities in our public primary schools in

accordance with the number of enrolled pupils.