Assessing Managerial Strategies for Enhancing Sexual and Reproductive Health Education in Secondary Schools of Meru District Council, Tanzania

Hidaya M. Mbonde & Flora N. Nyaisa
The Open University of Tanzania
Department of Psychology and Special Education
Email: hidayambonde255@gmail.com/ nyaisaflora6@gmail.com

Abstract: Globally, the increase in unhealthy sexual behaviours among adolescent students has prompted alarm and become a topic of interest for global public health researchers seeking innovative strategies to promote better sexual health outcomes. This study assesses managerial strategies for enhancing sexual and reproductive health education (SRHE) in secondary schools by focusing on two specific objectives, namely, to identify ways used by school management in enhancing SRHE in secondary schools and to find out challenges faced by school management in enhancing SRHE in secondary schools. The study used Ludwig Von Bertalanffy’s systems theory. The study used a case study design to collect in-depth information from the head teachers, discipline teachers, teachers, and students in the selected secondary schools, which comprised 36 participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions while observing the principle of saturation. The collected data were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the use of clubs, guidance and counselling services and organising seminars are among the strategies used to manage SRHE in secondary schools. Further, the study found several challenges faced by school management in enhancing SRHE in secondary schools, including lack of in-service training, lack of clear and proper sexual education policy, cultural barriers, lack of student readiness, and insufficient funds. The study recommends that school management create more strategies to ensure the successful implementation of SRHE within educational institutions. The study recommends further study to assess the extent to which sexual and reproductive health education promotes students’ academic performance in secondary schools.