The Role Of School Committees In Ensuring The Quality Of Primary Education In Magu District, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the role of school committees in ensuring quality of primary education in Tanzania. Three objectives guided the study: Exploring school committees‟ members‟ awareness on their administrative roles, examining the strategies used by school committees in ensuring quality primary education, and identifying the constraints facing the school committees‟ members in ensuring quality primary education. The study employed qualitative approach and multiple case studies design. The study also involved a sample of 25 participants from three schools. The participants were selected through purposive, and snowball sampling techniques. Data were collected through semi structure interview, focus group discussion and documentary review. Data gathered in this study were analysed by using Content qualitative analysis as per Huberman and Miles stages. The findings revealed that most of the members of the committees were aware of their roles as attested through managing school properties, improving academic performance, planning school budget and maintaining teachers and students‟ discipline. The study further disclosed that some head teachers had a little understanding of their roles as members of the school committees. The study further found that, the strategies used by school committees in ensuring the quality of primary education were: Building good relationship with the surrounding community, making follow-up on financial issues and through seminars. The constraints facing school committees were: shortage of teachers, financial challenges and gender sensitivity .The study concluded that, in the recent years, the members of the school committees were aware of their roles such as planning, monitoring and maintaining school budget. Among others, the study recommended that, seminars and fresher course should be offered regularly to help improve the performance of the school committees.