Home Environmental Factors and Their Effects on Students’ Academic Achievement in Secondary Schools in Tanzania

Adelifi Kaizirege & Upendo P. Biswalo
St John’s University of Tanzania
Email: adelfkaizirege@gmail.com

Abstract: This study assessed the effects of the home environmental factors on students’ academic achievement in secondary schools in Dodoma city, in the Dodoma region – Tanzania. The study was qualitative in nature whereby data were collected through interviews and observations. The findings indicated that, excessive household chores such as cooking, collecting firewood, fetching water and taking care of siblings, to mention just a few, had significant negative impact on students’ achievement at school. These home activities hindered students to study at home as they lacked ample time to concentrate on their studies, which led to poor attendance and performance at school. The study also revealed that sometimes students failed to concentrate during class due to tiredness. Additionally, the study revealed that poor family income, low level of parents’ education, parents’ conflicts and divorce, poor supervision at home, and long distance from home to school negatively affected students’ academic achievement. The study recommends that parents need to be educated on how they can create a supportive home environment for the academic success of their children. The study also recommends the need of strengthening parent-school cooperation, supervising and motivating children at home when they perform better in their studies.