Effectiveness of Education Curriculum in Promoting Self Employment among Form Four Secondary School Leavers: A Case of Arusha District Council

Supeet Meinyal
Head master; Ilkiding’a Secondary School, Arusha District
P.O. Box 3191 – Arusha.
Email: meinyals3@gmail.com
Dr. Kennedy Omondi Otieno
Coordinator Postgraduate Studies Research and Publications
St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Arusha.
P.O. Box 12385 – Arusha, Tanzania
Email: omondiken2016@gmail.com

Abstract: The study assessed the Effectiveness of Education Curriculum in Promoting Self Employment among Secondary School leavers in Arusha District Council. The objectives were to; examine the effectiveness of current secondary education curriculum to support self-employment among Secondary School leavers and to identify the shortcoming of current secondary education curriculum in supporting self-employment among Secondary School leavers in Arusha District Council. Discovery Learning Theory guided the study. The sample size consisted of 97 respondents (82 Secondary School leavers, 6 village executive officers and 10 parents). Convenient, purposive and snowball sampling techniques was used to select the respondents. Descriptive survey design and mixed methods approach were employed. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect data. Validity was established through expert judgement. Reliability index(r = 0.860) was obtained using Guttmann Split-Half Coefficient. The credibility of qualitative data was ascertained by involving multiple analysis whereas dependability was established through details reporting of research process. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics in the SPSS version 25 and results were presented in tables of frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analysed alongside research questions. The findings revealed that the curriculum system of education does not prepare the students to acquire skills that would help them for self-employment and competitive international jobs. The study further established that the curriculum was too theoretical rather than practical. The study recommends the need for financial support, improvement of infrastructures and skills in ICT in secondary school curriculum in order to enhance quality education for self-employment.