The Open University of Tanzania Online Journals System
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An Assessment of the Internal Quality Assurance Mechanisms at the Open University of Tanzania
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to assess the status of Quality Assurance systems at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) as well as give recommendations for improvement. The study employed the exploratory sequential mixed methods design that had three phases. The study sample comprised of one senior staff from the Quality Assurance directorate and 12 Heads of departments. Data was collected through an interview and a questionnaire. Qualitative data was analysed thematically while quantitative data was analysed descriptively using frequencies and mean. The study established that OUT had put in place an elaborate Quality Assurance (QA) framework with a directorate of QA headed by a director under the office of the Vice Chancellor. The university also had an IQA policy document as well as a QA handbook. The QA directorate had embraced the use of ICT as it employed online tools for monitoring various activities in the institution. The university also carried out a Self-Assessment every five years. However, the IQA at the university was faced by the following challenges: inadequate funding, understaffing of the IQA directorate, negative attitude by university staff towards QA staff, lack of involvement of HoDs in planning QA activities amongst others. The study recommends the following: the university should adequately staff and fund the QA directorate; the QA directorate should develop its activities in a participatory manner; and the QA directorate should increase sensitization of the university community on QA policies and issues
Evidence based impact of school inspection on teaching and learning in primary school education in Tanzania
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the impact of school inspection on teaching and learning in primary school education in Tanzania. The study was carried out in Mbeya region and data was collected qualitatively from 59 participants where 6 were head teachers, 44 classroom teachers, 8 school inspectors, and a District Education Officer (DEO). Data was collected through open-ended questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, and documentary analysis. The findings indicate that school inspectors gave some advice to teachers on how to teach and help the pupils with learning difficulties. However, it was found that school inspectors did not regularly visit the classroom for lesson observations to identify the strengths and weaknesses of teachers for the improvement of teaching and learning. The findings also indicate that school inspectors focused on the professional documents when evaluating the teachers’ work performance without classroom observation and helping teachers on how to teach the difficult topics that could be the added value of the school inspection. It was further found that school inspectors’ working conditions were poor as they lacked allowances to facilitate their school visits and they lacked a means of transport. It is argued in this paper that for teachers to grow professionally and improve the quality of teaching and learning in primary schools, school inspectors need to carry out classroom observations and be trained based on the subject matter. Nevertheless, improvement of the school inspectors’ work conditions and provision of a means of transport to the school inspectorate department is equally importan
Non Formal Education and Poverty Reduction in Tanzania: A Case Study of Catholic Nuns’ Institutions in Kilimanjaro Region
Get PDFThis paper is based on a study that examines how Catholic Nun’s institutions (CNIs) use non formal education (NFE) to reduce poverty in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. The article analyzes how CNIs provide NFE to bring about social development in Kilimanjaro communities. The study employed the theory of Constructivism to ascertain participatory and collaborative methods as principles of teaching youths and adults in CNIs. The study revealed that after attainment of independence in Tanzania, missionary institutions were also obliged to adhere to government's education policy and regulations in their running of educational institutions. Such changes made CNIs form another way of providing non-formal education. Furthermore, due to technological advancement, the changes in teaching methodology ushered in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This caused CNIs to face lack of qualified and enough teachers. Lack of NFE therefore is the source of missing self-employment and confidence to create new skills for reducing poverty. The study concludes that NFE provided by CNIs in Kilimanjaro communities have been supportive to social development. The study insists that CNIs should upgrade their provision of non-formal education which can bring economic changes and facilitate the achievement of high standards of life in Kilimanjaro and elsewhere
Elimination of School Fees and Parental Contributions in Tanzania: Implications on Parental and Community Commitment to Support Primary School Activities in Songea Municipality, Tanzania
Get PDFThis study explored the impacts of eliminating school fees and parental contributions on parental and community participation in primary school activities. The study was guided by two research questions: (1) what is the impact of eliminating school fees and parental contributions in primary schools on parental and community participation in school related activities?(2) How do parents view their participation in primary school activities in the context of fee-free education? The study was mainly qualitative and employed a multiple holistic case study design. A total of 31 participants were involved. The participants included teachers, heads of schools, parents, and Ward Education Officer. Data were collected through interviews, FGDs, and documentary reviews. Themes and subthemes were inductively developed through thematic analysis. The study suggests that, due to poor perception of the policy, the implementation of FFEP resulted in a significant reduction of parental participation in school activities. Most parents thought that the government was responsible for everything. The study also found that parents had mixed feelings regarding their participation in primary school activities in the context of FFEP. However, most of them thought that FFEP had provided them with a room to escape from contributions and other school responsibilities. The study recommends that strategic measures should be taken to educate parents on FFEP. Also, the government should find a way to restrict too many contributions which may lead to parents’ negative attitude towards FFEP. Likewise, there is a need to improve the existing policy so as to plug loop holes that discourage parental participation in school activities. 
Acceptability of Soup Powders Made from Selected Traditional Leafy Vegetables Grown in Lindi, Tanzania
Get PDFA study was conducted to assess the acceptability of soup formulated from traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) grown in Lindi, Tanzania. Three TLVs, Amaranth hybrids known as amaranthus leaves (AML), Manihortesculenta known as cassava leaves (CAL) and Ipomeabatatas known as sweet potatoes leaves (SPL) which had been optimized for Iron content, were used to prepare 4 vegetable soup formulations (F1– 60.0:7.5:22.5); (F2 –70.0:5.0:15.0); (F3 –80.0:2.5:7.5) and (F4 –40.0:10.0:40.0) respectively. Descriptive sensory analysis was performed by10 trained panelists who used 5 descriptors to quantitatively describe the sensory characteristics of four soup formulations. Thirty consumers assessed the degree of liking of products’ sensory attributes using a 7-point hedonic scale. External preference mapping was performed by relating sensory data with hedonic responses. Mean intensity ratings of descriptive attributes of the soup showed that F1, F2 and F3had significantly higher(p<0.05) mean intensity scores in colour, aroma, and mouth feel than F4. The consumer study showed that, with exception of mouth feel, consumers showed significant differences (p<0.05) between samples in colour, aroma, taste and overall acceptability. It was thus concluded thatF1 was the most liked by consumers due to colour, aroma and mouth feel followed by F2 and then F3 and finally F4. Furthermore, the preference mapping results showed that colour, aroma and mouth feel attributes were the main drivers for positive consumer preference for vegetable soup. Thus, selection and processing of vegetables, which retain these attributes, is of greater importance for consumer acceptability and hence increased utilization for consumer’s health and well-being
Assessment of Demographic Impacts on Accessibility to Potable Water: A Case Study of Mwanga District, Tanzania
Get PDFThe debate on the impacts of large populations over fixed resources in developing countries is ongoing. However, the degree of impacts varies from one area to another depending on the variability of physical and social-economic factors. This study assessed the impact of population increase on accessibility to potable water supply in Mwanga District using Kileo village case study for the purpose of uncovering the major demographic factor inter alia which affect availability and accessibility of potable water provide possible strategies reached through a participatory approach to alleviate the problems. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to collect data using questionnaires and interviews administered to 120 respondents whom 70 were women and 50 men including key informants. Findings showed that, the study area experienced high population increase in disharmony with accessibility to potable water supply to households for different domestic uses. As a result, the local government had limited funds for the construction of water infrastructure, climate change related to long droughts contributed to reduction of water sources. The general water shortage had various social economic impacts to the population in the study area. They included increased spread of waterborne diseases; the majority poor could not afford to buy water from private water suppliers; and women and children walked long distances to fetch water. The study concluded that, the increase in population corresponded with the negative effects of accessing to potable water compounded by climate change. Recommended the formation of village water committee to supervise and, in consultations with other stakeholders, find alternative ways of getting potable water for the growing population such as drilling water, protection and conservation of catchment areas; and fundraising to initiate community water projects
Finance-Growth Nexus in Eastern and Southern African Countries: Insights from a Panel ARDL Analysis
Get PDFThis study analysed the finance-growth nexus for countries in the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). This was done an attempt to identify countries where Financial Sector Development (FSD) has the largest/least growth effect and the regional bloc moderation in such effect based on panel Error correction ARDL model. The aggregate data were obtained from the World Development Indicators (WDI) for a total of 14 countries, five (5) of which being in the EAC and the rest being in the SADC. The observations suggested that the regional bloc moderation effect transforms an otherwise insignificant effect of FSD on growth into a positive one specifically for broad money growth among the EAC member countries. This is a signal that a monetary union for EAC member countries could spur an overall welfare gain. Growth-finance nexus however, exhibited short and long run trade-offs in countries within the SADC. In the short run there have been significant GDP growth responses as a result of FSD but such effect turns out to be detrimental in the long run. As such difficult choices had to be made between addressing short run GDP volatility and achieving higher GDP growth in the SADC
Factors Influencing the Ethnocentric Tendencies to Tanzanians Consumers Toward Purchasing Domestic Anti-Malarial Remedies
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to explore the factors influencing the ethnocentric tendencies to Tanzanian consumers towards purchasing domestic anti-malarial remedies. A case research design was adopted which helped to discover ideas and insights underlying consumers’ evaluation of anti-malarial remedies as far as consumer ethnocentrism was concerned. Purposive sampling was used to select 9 participants in this study. In this study, it was found out that the ethnocentric tendencies of Tanzanian consumers toward purchasing the domestic anti-malarial remedies were influenced by availability, affordability, quality and days of dosage of the anti-malarial remedies. The findings of this study were expected to provide health professional bodies with knowledge about ethnocentric tendencies of Tanzanian consumers towards purchasing domestic anti-malarial remedies. This would help them to boost the standard of the different domestic medical products and hence encourage Tanzanians to value their domestically produced anti-malarial remedies and other home produced products
Effect of Marketing Mix on the Marketing Performance of Grapefruits in Tanzania
Get PDFUsing the model of the marketing mix, this study assessed the effect of the marketing mix elements on the marketing performance of grapefruits in Tanzania. It was conducted at Hombolo Ward in Dodoma as one of the major grape-producing areas. Using a structured questionnaire, a simple random sample of 142 respondents was taken from a sampling frame of 220 grapefruit growers in the ward. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were used. Results indicated that price, product attributes, and place significantly affect the marketing performance of grapefruits. Promotion aspects on the other hand were found to have no significant effected. This indicated that the promotion was either inadequate or irrelevant, as evidenced by the lack of improved grapefruit marketing performance. This study recommended that an appropriate pricing strategy be implemented because it plays a significant role in grapefruit marketing performance. Since product attributes were found to strongly affect the marketing performance of grapefruits, it was recommended that producers should focus on improving product attributes such as quality and packaging. Finally, improvement of distribution infrastructure should be considered, since producers would be able to efficiently store, preserve, and deliver their products to the intended markets
An Analysis of the Frameworks Used to Link TVET Institutions with Labour Market Skill – Requirements. A Case of Tanzania and Two Selected Asian Tiger Nations
Get PDFThis study intended to: identify frameworks for linking TVET institutions with Labour Market skill-requirements; establish approaches for linking TVET institutions and their stakeholders from industries and informal sector; and assess the role of the linkage between TVET institutions and industries/informal sector in promoting technological skills. The study adopted mixed-methods research approach. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the three selected countries. The study established that Industrial Practical Training is one of the critical frameworks for strengthening the linkages, as it provides important opportunities for teaching staff and learners to acquire practical knowledge and skills. While majority of respondents from Tanzania cited corporate activities, internships, traineeships and incubation as less effective linkage avenues, almost all respondents from the two Asian Tiger Nations found them more effective. The study recommends TVET institutions in Tanzania to enter into agreements and sign MoU with industries and SMEs prior to the commencement of each academic year. This will facilitate accommodation of placement of graduates in industries with the involvement of teachers/tutors the same way it has been carried out in the two selected Asian Tiger nations