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Teachers’ Perceptions on the Relationship between Social Competence and Reading Skills Acquisition in Primary School Pupils
Get PDFThis paper set out to examine teachers’ perceptions of the link between social competence skills and reading skills acquisition in the Kiswahili language for standard four pupils in public primary schools. This was a qualitative study, made on the population of the Kiswahili language subject teachers. The study was conducted in Babati Township Council, Manyara Region, Tanzania. It involved 17 selected public primary schools where one subject and school head teachers from each school were involved. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide. The results show that the most important social competence skills for the acquisition of reading skills are communication skills, as other skills depend on the pupil’s ability to communicate his/her ideas well. The study posits that social competence skills have a positive impact on pupils’ acquisition of reading skills. The study recommends an additional curriculum that imparts pupils with social competence skills for reading and academic achievements at large
Perceptions of Education Stakeholders on Use of Code-Switching in English Foreign Language Classrooms in Primary Schools in Tanzania
Get PDFCode switching is used as a strategy for teaching of English foreign language in Tanzania public primary school contexts. It is however not officially recognised as one of the strategies for teaching and learning the English subject. Little attention has been given to the use of code switching for teaching and learning English as a foreign language in relation to how it minimises the opportunity to use the target language. The paper is informed by various perspectives on use of code switching in the language teaching and learning classroom. In particular, the paper is pegged on the view that in the foreign language classroom exposure and use of the target language is prime and should be maximised. This paper presents findings from a study that investigated the use of code switching in English language teaching and learning process where a qualitative approach was used. The findings of the study showed code switching negatively affects language proficiency of learners, as it lowers students’ ability to master English language, hinders language learning and it contributes to challenges students face during exams. Code switching impedes English language learning and should be avoided so as to develop a tendency for practicing speaking English language during English sessions. It is recommended to persistently teach English through English in the foreign language context to maximise use and the linguistic space for effective learning of the language
Land Tenure Security and Urban Agriculture: Focusing on the Vegetable Cultivation in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania
Get PDFLand tenure insecurity is one of the challenges facing urban dwellers given the increasing demand on land as the population increases in Tanzania. The main objective of this study was to examine the tenure security within urban agriculture on access to land. Specifically, it assessed different ways farmers’ access land for cultivation, the extent of land security among farmers, and implications of land tenure insecurity on vegetable cultivation. The study employed a cross-sectional design whereby snowball sampling was used to select 69 male and female vegetable farmers at the open space in Morogoro Municipality. Data was collected through household survey, in-depth interviews, observation and informal conversation. Results indicated that farmers access land through informal means by renting from the landlords who have legal land rights. Hence, social relationships have become important to access land while close relationship with the landlord determine the extent of land security a farmer has. Lastly, land tenure insecurity not only affects gardener’s vegetable cultivation but also creates uncertainty and hatred between farmers and their landlords. It is therefore imperative to integrate urban agriculture into urban development planning to enhance land tenure security of farmers since it has become permanent economic activity
Watching the Watcher: Evaluating the Tanzania Revenue Authority in Its Administration of Tax
Get PDFThis article evaluates the role of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) in the administration of tax in Tanzania. It works on the premise that proper tax administration enforces tax compliance by taxpayers, with tax administrators better placed to understand principles, laws and procedures of taxation than taxpayers. Yet, tax administrators are not always impartial in collecting revenue from taxpayers. Therefore, this article argues that tax administrators in Tanzania must acquaint themselves with laws governing tax and adhere to their core values to enhance tax compliance and boost revenue for the country’s development. Moreover, the article calls for the amendment of the tax laws to make them much more tax-payer friendly to facilitate compliance and further boost government coffers
Perceptions and Practices of Heads of Schools’ Instructional Leadership in Public Secondary Schools in Biharamulo District, Tanzania
Get PDFThe study aimed at examining the perceptions and practices of heads of schools’ instructional leadership in public secondary schools in Biharamulo district, Tanzania. A concurrent triangulation design using a sample of 75 was used. Data were collected using questionnaires for teachers, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for heads of schools and interviews for district secondary education officers. The quantitative data from questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive statistics while the qualitative data from interviews and FGDs were analyzed through thematic techniques. The study found that heads of schools perceived instructional leadership in terms of showing right direction about the teaching and learning process, ensuring the presence of teaching and learning resources and enhancing teachers’ teaching capacity. The study also found that heads of schools practiced instructional leadership in terms of supervising preparation of schemes of work and lesson plans, providing teaching and learning resources, promoting programme development, and in some occasions visiting teachers in classrooms. Furthermore, the study revealed that heads of schools’ instructional leadership is affected by lack of financial support, lack of training, teachers’ negligence, and heavy workload. Finally, the study recommends regular in-service trainings to be organized for heads of schools and more research to be carried out to examine the extent to which heads of schools employ instructional leadership practices
The Choice of Subject Combinations among Students in Secondary Schools and the Quest of Future Careers among Graduates in Tanzania
Get PDFIt is common for many employees, especially for the most recent young graduates in Tanzania, to complain that they have entered professions which are not of their interest. This incongruity has been due to lack of knowledge on the right choice of subjects against their future career/aspirations. It is from this reason, the current study examined factors influencing students’ choices of subjects in Tanzanian secondary schools. This study adopted mixed-methods research approach, with a cross-sectional design. It involved 165 respondents – 5 heads of schools, 25 teachers and 135 students from 5 selected secondary schools. The study employed questionnaires and interviews to collect data. The findings revealed that 60% of students were not aware of the subject combinations to study. Alongside, 60% of students were not comfortable on the subject combinations they were studying. Also, 68% of reported that their parents were not involved in a discussion with their children on the subject choice and future careers. It was further revealed that, teachers rarely influenced students’ choices of subjects. It was therefore recommended that, there should be an orientation to students on the choices of subjects in relation to future careers when they enter secondary schools. This should go along with parents’ encouragement to their children dreams. 
The Relevance of Bourdieu’s Social Practice Theory to Parents’ Participation in Basic Schools
Get PDFParents’ participation in basic school management has been identified to be very paramount in the growth and development of basic schools. Many scholars have espoused the critical roles they play in various dimensions to the development of basic schools, most especially in developing countries. This study investigated the relevance of Bourdieu social practice theory to parents’ participation in basic school management. The study sought to identify how Boudieu’s Social Practice theory assertions manifested in parents’ participation in basic schools’ activities. The purposive sampling technique was used to sample PTA executives, parents and school authorities. The study adopted the exploratory research method with in-depth interviews, observation and focus group discussions as techniques for data collection. The findings from the study revealed that the parents’ traits, experience and operational environment in schools determined the ways that parents participated in the management of basic schools. This article recommends that since the mode of synergy between parents and school environment had a pertinent impact on the parents’ desire to fully participate in the management of basic schools, government and other relevant stakeholders in the education fraternity should ensure a cooperative school environment
The Nexus between Capital Structure and Financial Performance of Banks: The Influence of COVID 19 in Tanzania
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to examine the nexus between capital structure and financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania. Panel data were used to conduct the empirical study which was extracted from the annual reports of 25 selected commercial banks for the period from 2016 to 2020. Descriptive statistics, correlations, fixed effect, and random effect models were used for the data analysis. Then, with the results of the Hausman Specification Test, the fixed effect model was considered as the most suitable model to examine the relationship between capital structure and ROA. Random effect model was considered as the most suitable model to examine the relationship between capital structure and ROE. This study was one of the very few studies which have investigated the nexus between capital structure and financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania under COVID 19 impacts which gives the contribution to the existing finance literature
Awareness and Perception of Mobile-Learning Apps as E-learning Platforms in ODL Institutions, South-West Nigeria
No full textThe paper examined Distance Learners' awareness and perception of Mobile Learning Apps as e-learning platforms. The population for the study comprised of all Mathematics and Science Distance Learners in South-West Nigeria. The study employed survey research design with two hundred and eighty (280) learners involved. The sample for the study was selected using purposive sampling techniques. The instrument for data collection was a researcher designed questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation, while hypothesis was tested using t-test. The study revealed that most of the learners are aware of the availability of the mobile learning Apps. However, the study showed that the learners exhibit a negative attitude towards usage of mobile learning Apps as e-learning platforms. The study recommended among others that the distance learning institutions should use different medium to sensitize the learners on the benefit of the use of mobile learning Apps. Also, learners should be properly guided on how to easily make use of different mobile learning Apps as this can encourage them to be fully integrated into the on-line learning platforms
Does Parents’ Valence toward School Relate to their Perceptions of Invitation to School Involvement?
Get PDFParents’ involvement in children's schooling is usually affected by their prior personal experience with schooling. Thus, if we want to assess parents’ involvement in school activities and their children's learning it is crucial to assess their prior personal experience with schooling. This study, therefore, examined the relationship between parents' self-reported valance toward school and their perceptions of invitations to the involvement of the school, teachers, and their child. The study involved 1176 low-income parents of children from 55 primary schools in four regions in Northern Tanzania. A multivariate linear regression model showed that parents' prior schooling experience (school valence) has a statistically significant effect on parents' perceptions of general invitations from school, teachers, and specific invitations from the child. Results showed that the school attributes could affect the relationship between parents' valence and their perceptions of involvement invitations. Possible interventions to promote inclusive parental involvement through supportive schools will be discussed