ABSTRACT

The study examined existing practices in managing student‟s truancy in secondary schools in Ilala municipality. The study was guided by four specific objectives; i. to explore existing school practices that work toward managing student‟s truancy in secondary schools; ii. to describe existing local government practices that work toward managing students truancy in secondary schools in Ilala municipality; iii. To investigate the contribution of parents on managing students truancy in secondary schools and to explain Strategies used in the management of students truancy. The study used descriptive statistics analysis technique to analyze quantitative data and qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis technique. Data were collected by using documentary review, closed-ended questionnaires and unstructured interview guide from 336 respondents including 4 school heads, 63 teachers, 245 students, 20 parents and 4 ward executive officers. The findings indicated that most of the students tend to miss school because of the family problems including family conflicts and poverty.  The findings also indicated that parents rarely visit schools. From the results, it was found that 63.1% of the respondents agreed that school fence and absence of library and laboratory have much impact on student‟s attendance. It was clear that monitoring students in the respective wards by WEOs is not easy and it requires strong coordination between teachers, parents, communities and all education stakeholders. It was also revealed that, local government authority cooperates with school boards under head of school to improve school infrastructures especially buildings such as toilets, classrooms and laboratories but the challenge was at what time these maintenance will come into effect that can prevent the rate of truancy. It was observed that, parents do not present issues related to student‟s truancy with local authority. The study recommends that, there should be school policy that will facilitate to highlight roles and responsibilities for every actor in decision making for betterment of the school. Additionally, Local government authorities should make regular visit to solve different  challenges  faced  by  teachers  and  students.  The  government  through  ministry responsible for education has to make sure school infrastructures are well constructed. The ministry responsible for education can review corporal punishment policy so as to alleviant complaints from parents and students on the administration of the punishment. Government can encourage the use of alternative punishment in school such as verbal warning, set of isolation rooms and school activities.