Effectiveness Of Government Circular Number 4 Of 2012 In Controlling Truancy: A Case Of Mbeya Rural Community Secondary Schools

ABSTRACT

This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of the Government Circular Number 4 of 2012 in controlling the truancy of form four students in community secondary schools in Mbeya Rural District. The study was guided by the Hierarchy of needs theory. The study mainly used a qualitative approach and supported with some elements of quantitative research. A total sample of 262 respondents was involved in the study. The study employed interview, documentary review, focused group discussion, and questionnaire to collect data. The data were analysed through content analysis where emerging themes were identified and descriptive analysis where data were summarized in tabular form.

The study findings indicated that Government Circular Number 4 0f 2012 has negative impact on truancy as it accelerates form four student truancy. Secondly, it was discovered that 32.4 % of the teachers and 44% of the students agree that the circular has increased the rate of form four students‟ truancy. Thirdly, it was found that the factors contributing to student truancy include family, school, community, and individual factors. Lastly, the extent of truancy was high in community secondary schools.

It is recommended that the Government should involve various educational stakeholders in formulating educational circulars, the heads of schools should ensure that educational circulars are accessible to both teachers and students, and lastly, the circular should be amended in order to prevent the students from using it as a loophole to play truant. Further research should be conducted to investigate the effectiveness of other circulars concerning indiscipline cases in educational institutions in Tanzania.