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Applauding or Criticising the Announcement of the Best School and Student in the National Examination: Which Way to Go?
Get PDFOn 29th January 2023, the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) stopped announcing the best-performing schools and students. The announcement drew mixed reactions (some applauding or criticising) among education stakeholders. Using a descriptive survey design, this quantitative study specifically identified reasons for the applause or criticism; compared statistically the identified reasons; and the private and public education stakeholders on the announcement. The questionnaires were used to collect data from 500 stakeholders who were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya, and Dodoma cities. The collected data were analysed using Descriptive Statistics and Independent t-tests. The findings indicate that, the applauding reasons include different study environments; no longer motivation for studying, improved understanding and restoring original logic of schooling. Other reasons are the announcement served no good purpose; the announcement marketed the schools; and it was not fair to compare schools using the British and NECTA systems. Contrarily, the criticism reasons are the Government escapism from under-investment in public schools; denying of information to education researchers; suppressing information and putting society in the dark; removing the incentives for students; cause unforeseen consequences; leader’s in-charge subjectivity/selfishness move and the Council ignores the foundational reason for the announcement. Furthermore, there is a very minimal statistically significant difference between the reasons for applauding (M=3.611, SD=.825) and the reasons for criticising (M=3.645, SD=.829) the announcement. The t-test results portrayed no statistically significant difference between the private and public education stakeholders on the announcement. Therefore, none is more powerful than the other between the applause and criticism of the announcement. The private and public education stakeholders should look for an alternative approach to improving results in the national examinations than depending on the announcement of the best schools and students
Examiners’ Feedback Reports and their Effects on Mathematics Performance in Tanzanian Secondary Schools
Get PDFThe National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) issues Candidates Items Response Analysis reports (CIRA) as feedback reports for improving performance in secondary schools. Despite such initiative, the performance is in critical condition. Therefore, this paper presented in the NECTA 50th years’ anniversary conference which had the theme about ‘Assessment bodies as stirrers for effective learning’, evaluated such reports. Specifically, the study explored students’ awareness of candidates’ items response analysis reports; examined the perceived usefulness of candidates’ items responses analysis reports; evaluated the availability of candidates’ items analysis reports, assessed students access of candidates’ items response analysis reports and evaluated the influence of candidates’ items responses analysis reports on mathematics performance in secondary schools. The study adopted a sequential exploratory mixed methods design, multiple regression model and feedback intervention theory. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires and interview from students and teachers in secondary schools. The study found that, most of the students in secondary schools are not aware of examiners’ feedback reports issued by the National Examination Council of Tanzania, hence do not make use of them, as the results they influence little on mathematics performance. Therefore, the study concludes that, there is a dire need for enforcing the effective utilization of such reports for improving performance. The study recommends therefore, teachers’ professional training institutions, T.I.E and ADEM to incorporate the use of feedback reports in their training packages. Further study may develop intervention programme on effectiveness use of feedback reports for improving performance in secondary schools. 
Assessment of Teaching Approaches Employed by Teachers in Teaching Students with Visual Impairment in Tanzania Inclusive Secondary Schools
Get PDFThis study assessed the teaching approaches employed by secondary school teachers teaching in inclusive classrooms incorporating students with visual impairment in Tanzania. The aim of the study was to find out the extent to which the approaches suited the students’ learning needs. The study adopted a qualitative research approach, employing a single case research design. Purposive sampling procedures were employed to obtain a sample of 24 respondents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations and documentary reviews. The collected data were analyzed through thematic data analysis procedures and presented using descriptions, tables and charts. The findings have revealed that some of the teaching approaches executed by teachers accommodated the learning needs of students with visual impairment, while others did not. It is recommended that teachers should adapt teaching approaches that suit students with visual impairment. Further, the government should organize more regular trainings and professional development courses for raising teachers’ awareness on inclusive issues
Challenges Facing Teenage Mothers Re-Entry into Secondary Schools in Tanzania: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study
Get PDFThis article discusses short-term developmental faculty coaching, which can be categorized as ongoing and personal professional development. This coaching is distinct from faculty evaluation. The developmental faculty coaching protocol discussed here is a novel one developed by the author. It was developed through direct observation of over 400 in-person and online classes of over 100 new and returning adjunct faculty at a small higher education institution in New York State, USA. The protocol was generally used with new faculty, who know an academic area, but they lack training in andragogy and have had no or little experience teaching university students. A pre-observation, during-observation, and post-observation protocol is outlined for the faculty coach and the instructor being coached. It is suggested that developmental faculty coaching be made available to all new higher education instructors and to those more experienced instructors who request it. Recommendations for future study include collecting data on individual instructors or a cohort of new instructors through quantitative and/or qualitative research, which would yield insights into how new instructors grow into excellent classroom teachers at the university level
Mathematics Teachers’ Use of National Assessment Feedback Reports in Improving Pedagogical Practices in Secondary Schools
Get PDFDespite its importance in contributing to economic development, the trend of Mathematics performance has been low. The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) provides Mathematics assessment reports to the schools, highlighting students’ strengths and weaknesses and recommending teachers to improve their teaching and learning practices. However, Mathematics performance in national examinations is still poor. This study examined how Mathematics teachers utilise Form Two National Assessment - Students’ Item Response Analysis (FTNA-SIRA) feedback reports to enhance their teaching practices. Specifically, the study focused on teachers’ perceptions and use of assessment feedback reports and their challenges. This qualitative study employed a phenomenology design that purposively selected 33 participants from ten (10) districts after obtaining their consent. The study used interviews and open-ended questionnaires to collect and analyse information using thematic analysis. Mathematics teachers admitted they hardly access feedback reports, and most of them revealed that they could not use them despite understanding their importance. Three Mathematics teachers from urban areas admit that using assessment feedback they accessed from the NECTA website improved their classroom teaching practices. However, underutilisation of the feedback is due to frailty in utilising online copies, reports remaining at the district or heads of schools’ offices, and low motivation and skills in implementing the recommendations provided. Underutilisation of assessment feedback hardly informs any pedagogical improvement, which risks the continuation of poor Mathematics performance. The study recommends establishing strategies for teachers’ effective use of assessment feedback for improving pedagogical practices, including capacity building, feedback use framework and motivation
The Challenges of Managing Extracurricular Activities for Pre-Primary Children's Physical Development in Meru District Council-Arusha
Get PDFGlobally, extracurricular activities promote children's readiness to master their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. This study assessed the challenges in managing extracurricular activities toward children's physical development. The Administrative management theory by Henry Fayol and Froebel's Play Theory was employed in this study. The study employed semi-structured interviews with five pre-primary teachers, five head teachers and five sports teachers. The findings suggest the existence of the following challenges: the shortage of playing facilities in schools, a lack of some children's interest in participating in extracurricular activities, a lack of in-service training on handling extracurricular activities which promote children's physical development, tight school timetables and schedules with no space for extracurricular the participants also shortage of funds to run extracurricular activities. To address the challenges, schools started small projects for fundraising, promoting teachers' mentorship and collaboration among schools to share knowledge and skills on how extracurricular activities encourage children's physical development. Schools frequently meet with parents to emphasise the importance of extracurricular activities to their children's physical development. The study recommended that the school management team educate parents on the importance of extracurricular activities. Further, research needs to be done on the influence of physical development on a child's academic achievement
Impediments in Teaching Kiswahili Phonemic Awareness and Alphabet Knowledge in Grade One in Tanzania
Get PDFResearch has consistently pointed out the important role played by phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge in development of reading skills among pupils. Phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge are good predictors in reading competencies in early grades and higher levels of primary education. This study aims at exploring the constraints facing teaching of Kiswahili phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge in grade one. The study was qualitative in nature in which phenomenology design was employed. The purposive sampling technique was used to recruit ten grade one teachers and ten head teachers from ten public primary schools in Chemba district. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The collected data from teachers and head teachers were thematically analyzed. The research findings indicated that there were variations of the views among teachers and head teachers on the impediments in teaching phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge in grade one. The prominent mentioned challenges were truancy, mother tongue effect, parents’ limited knowledge. It was recommended that teachers should collaboratively work with parents; revisiting of language policies to incorporate mother tongue in early grades is crucial; and attendance to PPE should be taken into account by the educational stakeholders
Challenges Facing Small-Scale Furniture Industries in Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania
Get PDFThe study evaluated the challenges Tanzania's small-scale furniture industry faced. The resource-based view and resource dependency theory were used as the study's guiding concepts. From the nation's commercial centre of Dar es Salaam, 154 furniture carpenters were chosen at random. The information was gathered via the questionnaire. The collected data was examined using a descriptive analysis. According to the findings, carpenters faced several difficulties, including a shortage of modern machine tools, inadequate working capital, low labour skills, a lack of formal workspaces, and fierce competition from imported furniture. The lack of modern machine tools prevented small and medium enterprises from producing goods of the kind needed to enter growing markets. To boost productivity, furniture production must make use of current machinery. Insufficient availability of suitable financial services had led to insufficient operating capital for investments in furniture manufacturing. The study concludes that the furniture business has a significant role in generating income and jobs. The study recommends that Governments should promote a business-friendly environment in addition to creating financial and non-financial services as well as supportive institutional infrastructure
Assessment of the Factors Affecting the Intention to Adopt Mobile Marketing Among the Aging Population in Zanzibar
Get PDFThe popularity of mobile phones has led to the explosion of mobile service provision in different sectors such as; marketing, health, and sports. Studies evidenced that the use of the mobile service is generally associated with the younger generation while ignoring the aging population. The purpose of this paper was to investigate factors affecting the intention to adopt mobile marketing among the aging population in Zanzibar. This study was guided by an extension of the Technology Acceptance Model. The study utilized the quantitative method whereby 382 questionnaires were distributed to pensioners using a stratified sampling design. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the collected data. The analysis was aided by SEM- AMOS version 25. The study found out that perceived ease of use and technology anxiety strongly influenced the consumers’ intention to adopt mobile marketing. Furthermore, it was also revealed that attitude had partial mediation on the relationship between consumers’ perception and behavioral intention. This finding implied that mobile business vendors should design mobile marketing apps withuser-friendly interfaces with a clear view of products and services for aging consumers. The finding of this study is vital to aging consumers because will improve the standard of living in the current mobile phone era
Empowerment Setbacks and Coping Strategies in the COVID-19 Crisis of Female Food Vendors in Tanzania
Get PDFThe Government of Tanzania has established a conducive environment for gender equity, as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs). Female food vendors operating in Tanzania's urban settings face multifaceted socio-economic and cultural challenges, with these factors significantly influencing how they are perceived and treated within their communities. This, in turn, can impact their ability to negotiate and make decisions in business settings, particularly during epidemics. However, the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenges. This study delved into the effects of COVID-19 on food vending businesses and coping mechanisms amidst its raging consequences. The study sequentially employed qualitative and quantitative approaches to gather data from female food vendors using in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Of all the collected questionnaires, 304 were sufficient for descriptive and paired t-test analyses. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. The findings underscore the significant adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business performance of female food vendors. Indicators such as the number of employees, average daily sales, average daily profit, and daily working capital exhibited statistically significant declines during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. Coping strategies employed by female food vendors included strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, workforce reductions, trimming daily allowances for assistants, cutting down on working capital, streamlining food items on the menu, and avoiding expensive menu options. The study highlights the negative impact of the pandemic on business performance, emphasizing the need for government intervention through subsidies, especially during pandemics. Additionally, the study recommends business formalisation to access subsidies and micro-credits better. Following the analysis, the study offered detailed policy recommendations to address specific issues identified during the research. Additionally, suggestions for further studies are presented, indicating potential avenues for future research to deepen the understanding of the subject matter