A Longitudinal Study in Predicting School Performances in Tanzania

Abstract

The Tanzanian formal Educational System follows the 7/4/2/3 years of education pattern for primary, junior secondary, high school, and university respectively, with minor variations for the number of years at university where some training such as medicine takes six years. Preschool education is voluntary and private. Education in Tanzania is free from primary to university except for private secondary schools which currently enrol more than half of the public secondary school enrolment. In the primary schools the medium of instruction is Kiswahili. In 1976, about 53% of the children in the appropriate age group were enrolled in the first grade of primary schooling. In the secondary school the medium of instruction is mostly English. In the past, the first two secondary school grades had a common program. From the third secondary grade on, two streams (in terms of biases) were distinguished: Arts and Sciences. Currently (some schools are still in transition), in addition to the more academic subjects in both streams each public secondary school is equipped with special training facilities for practical skills (Agriculture, Commerce, Technical and Domestic Sciences). Students must opt for one of these practical subject areas. Graduation takes place after 4 secondary school grades (i.e., at S4). After graduation, placement in a higher secondary school is possible. In these schools students follow a two year course in a minimum of three subjects. Although a specialisation in Arts or Science is normal, a variety of subject combinations is available.