Students’ Absenteeism and Its Influence on the Education of Pastoralist Communities in Public Secondary Schools in Longido District, Tanzania

Noel John Mbaruku – District Administrative Officer, Ngorongoro
Dr. Kennedy Omondi Otieno – St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) Arusha
Email: mbarukunoel4@gmail.com/omondiken2016@gmail.com

Abstract: The study purposed to investigate the students’ absenteeism and its influence on education of pastoralists’ communities in public secondary schools in Longido District. The objectives of the study were to; determine the cultural factors for students’ absenteeism among the pastoralist communities in public secondary schools, and find out the influence of students’ absenteeism on the education of pastoralist communities in Longido District. The study employed ex-post facto research design and mixed methods approach. Data was collected from nine Heads of schools, 45 form four students, 45 parents and 27 teachers using Questionnaire, interview guide and focus group discussion. In total, 126 respondents were selected using simple random, stratified and purposive sampling techniques. The reliability test (r = 0.7) of the questionnaires was determined, after a pilot study. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in the SPSS version 20 and results were presented in tables of frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically alongside research questions. The findings revealed that cultural ceremonial events, movement with animals, early marriage, and night traditional dances are the major cultural factors for students’ absenteeism. Also revealed were absenteeism negatively affects achievement of students’ educational goal, score in examination impairs educational growth of school, and leads to the increase in community illiteracy, unskilled students and failure to finish school on time. The study recommends that parents and students should attend special seminars and workshops which outline the importance of discarding outdated cultural practices like female genital mutilation and early marriages.