Factors Contributing to the Accumulation of Primary Teacher’S Debts to the Government of Tanzania: A Case Study for Dar Es Salaam Region

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of the study which was conducted to determine factors contributing to the accumulation of primary school teacher’s debts to the Government of Tanzania, a case study of Dar es Salaam Region in its three municipalities namely, Ilala, Kinondoni and Temeke. Data was obtained through sampling method which also helped to determine the population of this study. It includes staff from government Ministries, Teacher’s union officials, municipal officials, primary school teachers and pupils who were randomly supplied through personal administered questionnaires.

Review of various documents was also done through published, unpublished reports and newspapers obtained from libraries, ministries offices, independent departments and office of the Teacher’s union. This together with the questionnaires and the direct interviews ultimately generated findings for this study. Data were electronically edited, summarized, classified, tabulated and analyzed using electronic software package for social sciences (SPSS) to get the final suggestions and conclusions.

Lack of proper budgeting, mismanagement of education funds as well as the absence of a policy manual which can identify the rights and obligations of the teachers were found to be  the main root causes of Primary school teacher’s debts accumulation of the Government of Tanzania. This is why most of the blames are directed to the Government of Tanzania for lack of commitment in considering education as the first priority in its budget.