COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND PERCEPTIONS ON PROJECT-BASED SUPPORT TO PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE BASIC EDUCATION IN RORYA DISTRICT, TANZANIA
Abstract
This study investigated community participation and perceptions on project-
based support to public primary schools to ensure sustainability of basic education in
Rorya District, Mara, Tanzania. Specifically, the overarching aim of the current study
was to explore an approach that will strengthen community participation in project-
based support to public primary schools to ensure sustainable FFBE for optimum
learning. The study employed a concurrent mixed research design with quantitative
and qualitative data triangulated for validation. The overall reliability of the
questionnaires was .850 and .844 respectively. Data was collected using
questionnaires and interview schedules. Descriptive statistics established means and
standard deviations for variability in perceptions of the respondents; while Pearson
Product –Moment correlation coefficient tested relationship. The study was guided by
Ecological Systems Theory and Transformational Theory. The major findings of the
study are that parents do not see the value of public primary school education and the
advantages of fee free education; both parents and School Management Committee
members do not see it important for the community to participate in project-based
support for education; the null hypothesis was rejected; the respondents perceived the
community inadequately supporting fee free basic education; the SMC observed that
there were minimal challenges; the research collated the recommendations emerged
from the study findings for interventions; and the researcher invented a model for
community participation. The major recommendation is that the government in
collaboration with the other stakeholders at Rorya District should conduct awareness
seminars on the importance of community participation in project based support to
public primary schools. Further, the study proposed a TWE project-based model: A
Sustainable fee free basic education for public primary schools in Tanzania.