Impact Of Drug Abuse On Secondary School Students Academic Achievement In Tanzania: The Case Of Temeke Municipality

ABSTRACT 

The aim of this study was designed to assess the impact of Drug abuse on students‘ academic performance among secondary schools in Temeke Municipality. Specific objectives for this study were to: Investigate the causes of drug abuse among secondary school students in Temeke Municipality; assess the Challenges faced in controlling drug abuse in secondary schools and examine the impact of drug abuse on students‘ academic performance in secondary school in Temeke Municipality. The study was guided by Social Learning Theory. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Using purposive and simple random sampling, a total sample of 91 respondents of whom 48 were students, 18 were parents, 20 were teachers and 5 Heads of school, took part in the study. Data were obtained through structured and semi-structured interviews, questionnaire and documentary review. Qualitative data from the interviews were subjected to thematic analysis in which common themes and patterns were identified. Quantitative data from questionnaires were subjected to multiple responses analysis with the aid of SPSS data analysis computer software. The findings show that: causes of student engaged in the drug are: peer group pressure, Cheap and easy accessibility to drugs, and Imitation. Also the study revealed that the use of drug abuse among students leads to: mental disability, lack of concentration, violence, and health problem. The findings further revealed that the major impacts to student‘s drug abuse are: Poor Academic performance, increase rate of school dropout and increase rate of truancy. Following these findings, the study recommends that the government needs to build hostels for public schools so as to allow students to stay at schools to avoid persuasion.