The Challenges Facing Secondary School Administrators In Effective Implementation Of Fee-Free Education Provision In Selected Schools In Bahi District

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the challenges facing school administrators in effective implementation of fee-free education in Tanzania. The objectives of this study are to explore the challenges that school administrators’ face while ensuring effective implementation of fee- free education provision in secondary schools, to establish the effects of fee-free education provision on management of secondary education schools and examine, the strategies used by school administrators to address the challenges of fee- free education in secondary schools. This study employed mixed method approach. Furthermore, the study employed a Convergent Parallel Design or concurrent mixed approach design and used the theory of Capital theory of school effectiveness and improvement by David Hargreaves of 2001. Data were collected from 70 respondents whereby 58 respondents through Questionnaires, and 12 through interview. Descriptive analysis was analyzed by computing frequency, percentage and mean by using SPSS program Version 20. Qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Results revealed that there are challenges that administrators face while trying to ensure an effective implementation of Fee-Free Education provision including delay of funds, overcrowding of classroom, inadequate teaching and learning materials, inadequate number of classroom. Moreover, the findings revealed that the existence of parents’ misconception of the Fee-Free Education policy and shortage of teachers in schools. Furthermore, the findings indicated several strategies to be employed to address the challenges includes improvement of infrastructure such as classrooms, tables and chairs to match the number of students, motivation of teachers through housing and remuneration, and increase in fund allocation. On addition, the study concludes that despite the government desire to ensure fee free education to all students regardless of their economic background still there are challenges to be addressed to ensure effective implementation of this policy. The study further recommended that there is a need for increasing the amount of capitation grant in to enable smooth operation of the school activities. Also, number of teachers should be increased in ward secondary schools to reduce overworking as well as increasing the number of classrooms, tables and chairs in classrooms so as to cope with the overcrowding in classrooms.