Assessment of Access and Retention of Learners with Special Needs in Primary Education in Tanzania: A Study of Arusha District

Yohana Bernard Welwel
Dr. Kennedy Omondi Otieno
St. Augustine University of Tanzania, Arusha
Email: joanwelwe90@gmail.com

Abstract: Education is a universal right and non-discriminatory process to both healthy and physically challenged. The study specifically assessed access and retention of Learners with Special Needs (LSN) in primary schools in Arusha district and the challenges facing LSN and their intervening measures. Descriptive survey design was employed. A total of 121 respondents (55 teachers, 11 parents and 55 students) were involved. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to gather quantitative data while document analysis and interview guide were employed for qualitative data from the respondents. Validity of research instruments was established through expert judgment. Reliability of quantitative research instruments was determined through test re-test in a pilot study and found to correlate at Cronbach Alpha coefficient r=0.687. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The results were presented in tables of frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically alongside research questions and presented in narrative forms. The findings show that, the rate of enrolment of LSN was low and unsatisfactory. Moreover, the finding shows inadequate teaching and learning materials was the major challenge for learners with LSN to acquire their education. Thematically, the findings found that parents do not see importance of enrolling children with LSN because they think that LSN cannot be employed in any organization. Therefore, this study concludes that, there is low and unsatisfactory completion of studies for most LSN. It is recommended that education stakeholders and government should put more emphasis on enrollment of LSN and to support schools in training and policy implementation.