Effects of Increased Student’s Enrolment on Quality Education in Public Secondary Schools in Arusha District

Vitalis Martin Nada – Headmaster, Olturumet Secondary School
Dr. Kennedy Omondi Otieno – St. Augustine University of Tanzania, Arusha.
Email: vitalismnada@gmail.com/omondiken2016@gmail.com

Abstract: Inadequate resources in schools as a result of over enrolment since the inception of the free education policy in Tanzania in November 2015 have compromised the quality of education in public secondary schools. The study was guided by the Enrollment Management Theory. The objectives of the study were to: examine the extent to which increased Students’ Enrollment influences quality education in secondary schools and to determine the coping strategies employed to mitigate the effects of increased Students’ Enrollment on quality education in public Secondary Schools in Arusha District. Convergent mixed methods design was adopted. The sample size for the study was 108 teachers selected using stratified and simple random sampling technique, 10 school heads and one DEO purposively selected. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from secondary school teachers whereas interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from school heads and education officer. Validity was established through expert judgment whereas a pilot study was conducted to test for Reliability using Guttmann Split-Half Coefficient(r=0.985). Credibility and dependability were established through detailed reporting of the research process. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically alongside research whereas quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and charts. The study established that increase of students’ enrolment as influenced by free basic education policy causes constrain on inadequate resources hence poor quality education. Thus, the study recommends that school management and MoEST should improve quality education through teacher training, better salary payment, proper infrastructure, good learning environment and effective school management.