Implementation of The Universal Primary Education Policy and Its Effectiveness in Tanzania

ABSTRACT The study is concerned with the implementation of the Universal Primary Education policy and its effectiveness in Tanzania. The study articulates an indepth understanding of the current status of the policy and the critical constraints on its effectiveness. This study will contribute to the ongoing discussion between the government and the different stakeholders toward the articulation of the effectiveness implementation of the policy. This study was conducted through a cross — sectional survey because it crosses between different key stakeholders in educational sector. The study was concerned with the implementation of UPE policy and its effectiveness in Tanzania. It was specifically intended to investigate the effectiveness of the UPE policy on the enrollment, the effect of the UPE policy on the female and disadvantaged children in gross enrollment ratio and the effect of the UPE policy on internal efficiency in terms of primary education in Tanzania. These questions were best investigated through surveys research designs. Sample population of this study was selected from different key stakeholders in educational sector which include some personnel from the Ministry of Education and Culture, different researchers from University of Dar es Salaam and different Non-Governmental Organisations. In this research the researcher made questionnaire that consisted of four parts. That is, the information on the profile of the respondents as in terms of age, gender and experience in this policy. It also contained the information relating to the knowledge of the respondents in terms of the UPE policy as pertaining to its effectiveness and lastly, contained information regarding the status of the policy. Personal observation on the effectiveness of the UPE policy is another instrument used in collection of data. The major findings of this study is that the allocation of funds in this policy is not according to fund needed to make it more effective by providing all the necessary materials required such as textbooks, classrooms and quality teaching staffs and the researcher also observed that UPE programme is just creating a class between the rich and the poor who depend only on this policy because the rich take their children to good schools and get quality education compared to these children of poor people. The major recommendation of the study is that, the government should start to act introspectively putting in the mind the pupils after completion of primary seven by either establishing the Vocational or Technical Training to accommodate those who could not get the chance to go to Secondary Education. The government should also improve parent awareness in the importance of giving their children basic education because without this the removal of school fees is nothing.