Articles, Conference and Workshop Papers Collection

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.10.97.169:4000/handle/123456789/4314

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Browsing Articles, Conference and Workshop Papers Collection by Subject "Adolescents"

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    Reintegrating adolescent mothers into secondary education: investigating the availability and effectiveness of support systems in Mbeya region, Tanzania
    (Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group, 2025) Mwakililo, Pendo Samson
    Despite recent policy reforms, such as Education Circular No. 2 of 2021 and the Secondary Education Quality Improvement Programme (SEQUIP) initiative, aimed at facilitating school re-entry, adolescent mothers continue to face considerable emotional, financial, and institutional challenges. This study examines availability and per­ ceived effectiveness of support systems for adolescent mothers re- admitted to secondary schools in the Mbeya region of Tanzania. Guided by Lazarus’s Cognitive-Motivational-Relational Theory (CMRT), this paper employed embedded single case study design involving 20 purposively selected student mothers across five sec­ ondary schools, through focus group discussions and open-ended questionnaires. Findings revealed that while informal support exists, formal and coordinated systems remain fragmented and insuffi­ ciently responsive to student mothers’ lived realities. The paper emphasizes the need for integrated psychosocial, financial, and insti­ tutional interventions that are contextually grounded and emotion­ ally supportive. These findings contribute new insights into how adolescent student mothers perceive and interpret support, offering understanding of re-entry contexts.
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    Returning to learn: an exploration of motivations behind adolescent student mothers’ school re-entry in Tanzania
    (AJOL (G-Card ), 2025) Mwakililo, Pendo Samson; Magere, Grace Makunja
    This paper explored the reasons prompting adolescent student mothers to return to secondary schools in Tanzania, particularly in the Mbeya region. Employing a single case study approach, the study intentionally selected 20 adolescent student mothers. Data collection involved focus group discussions and an open- ended questionnaire to gain comprehensive insights into the factors that influence adolescent mothers' decisions to resume education after childbirth. The paper is rooted in Lazarus's (1991) Cognitive Motivational Relational Theory (CMRT), which focuses on how individuals' cognitive evaluations and motivations drive their choices and actions in facing challenges. The findings highlight four primary motivations for school reentry: aspirations for career advancement, pursuit of financial independence, setting a positive example for their children and rectifying past mistakes. These motivations reflect the resilience of adolescent mothers, who perceive education as a means to overcome difficulties, improve their socio-economic conditions and enhance their children's future opportunities. The study implies a need for educational policies and practices that support adolescent student mothers, including adaptable school schedules, financial assistance and counselling services to help them effectively manage schooling concurrent with motherhood. Additionally, it recommends that educational institutions and policymakers foster inclusive environments that cater to the specific needs of adolescent mothers, promoting their commitment to education.