Is Education a Tool for a Good Life? A Phenomenological Analysis of Views of University Students in Tanzania

Abstract

Education is perceived to be one of the means through which people could achieve a good life. In this paper part of the data of the study that examined Tanzanian university students’ conceptions of a good life was used to assess students’ views on the extent to which education has promoted the attainment of a good life among Tanzanian citizens. It employed a qualitative research paradigm in which Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)was used to analyse and interpret data from twenty-five (25) participants who consisted of twenty (20) third-year student teachers and five (5) lecturers of education from Dar es Salaam University College of Education. The findings indicated that education has promoted the attainment of a good life among Tanzanian citizens by eradicating and reducing poverty, creating employment opportunities, eradicating, and reducing some bad cultural practices, beliefs, misconceptions, and ignorance, promoting moral excellence, and adopting and deployment of science and technology. The study recommended that the government of Tanzania in collaboration with other educational stakeholders should continue investing in the provision of relevant and quality education to Tanzanians to promote the attainment of a good life among Tanzanian citizens.