FACTORS THAT LIMITS AVAILABILITY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS IN TANZANIA PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Author: Kenneth M. Kasulwa, Dr. Salvatory Mhando & Dr. Simon Ambakisye

ABSTRACT

The deficit of teaching and learning materials in Tanzania’s Public Primary Schools has become a challenge. This challenge hinders the process of teaching and learning practically. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore factors that limit the availability of teaching and learning materials in Tanzania Public Primary Schools. The study was guided by the following objectives; to identify the challenges that hinder the availability of teaching and learning materials in public primary schools and to find out the way forward to tackle the challenges that limit the availability of Teaching and Learning Materials in Primary Schools. A sample size of ten public primary schools from a population of one hundred and fifty schools was selected for the study. The participants were district education officers, heads of schools, academic teachers, and teachers. The study used a qualitative approach and case study design. The data was gathered through an interview guide and observation. The findings showed that insufficient budget which leads to the government not allocating enough funds for teaching and learning materials equally to public primary schools due to small investments to enable the purchasing of the teaching and learning materials in these schools. The study recommends that the government should not only consider the issue of constructing classrooms and registering a huge number of pupils in the government primary schools but also think of disbursing and allocating enough funds for the teaching and learning materials as these materials are essential to improving pupils’ competencies in public primary schools. Also, it is recommended that the government should as well consider providing special training to teachers on how some of the teaching and learning materials can be used, securing and constructing sports playgrounds for schools as these will eventually contribute to enhancing public schools’ performance in all spheres of learning.

Keywords: Teaching Materials, Learning Materials, Public Schools, Primary Schools, Teachers

REFERENCES

  • Admin, I. (2018). The Importance of Learning Materials for Global Learning. Canada: Cart Publishers
  • Bedenlier, S., Bond, M., Buntins, K., Kerres, M., & Richter, L (Eds.) (2020). Systematic Reviews in Educational Research. Methodology, Perspectives and Application. Germany: Abraham-Lincoln-Str. 46, 65189 Wiesbaden.
  • Carneiro, R. (2018). The big picture: understanding learning and meta-learning challenges. European Journal of Education, 42(2), 151-172.
  • Creswell, J. W. (2005). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
  • Donalek, J. G. (2004). Phenomenology research Design.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
  • Driscoll, M. P. (2018). Psychology of learning for instruction (2nd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon Gogo?
  • Kombo, D.S & Tromp L.A. (2006), Proposal and Thesis Writing an Introduction, Nairobi: Pauline Publications Africa.)
  • Kothari, C.R. (2003), Research Methodology. Methods and technique (2nd Ed), New Delhi: New Age International Limited.
  • Lamberton, L. H., & Minor-Evans, L. (1995). Human relations: Strategies for success. Irwin Professional Publishing.
  • Lusupi, Z. (2020). Determinant for effective implementation of force account in construction project in Tanzania. Unpublished dissertation. Mzumbe University: Tanzania.
  • Miller, P. (2016). Theories of developmental psychology (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
  • Mkandawire, S. B. (2018). Literacy versus Language: Exploring their Similarities and Differences. Journal of Lexicography and Terminology, 2 (1), 37-55.
  • Mkandawire, S. B. (2019). Selected Common Methods and Tools for Data Collection in Research. In: M. K. Banja (Ed.). Selected Readings in Education Volume 2. (pp.143-153). Lusaka: Marvel Publishers.
  • OCM, (2013), Classroom Utilization report summary. Retrieved on 6th April 2015 from http://www.classroom.umn.edu/scheduling/utilization/fall01-spring02/ summary.html.
  • Onche, A. (2014). Meeting the Challenge of Accessibility and Utilization of Modern Instructional Materials in Rural Secondary Schools in Nigeria. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. I, (2): 1 – 13.
  • Oni, J. O. (2014). Resource and Resource Utilization as Correlates of School Academic
  • UNESCO (2015): Rethinking Education: Towards a global common good? Paris: UNESCO.