The causes, effects and way-out of students’ crises in higher learning institutions
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Date
2006
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to examine the causes, effects and way-out of students'
crises in higher learning institutions in Tanzania. The research used a simple random
sampling (SRS) and purposive sampling (PS) methods. Questionnaires, interview and
documentary were used as a source of information. The study information’s were drawn
from three institutions namely Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Mzumbe
University (MU) and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (BIT). The sample comprised
150 respondents, which included students, staffs, key informants and general public. The
causes of students’ crises identified were administrative aspects (48%), allowance issues
(25%) and student organizations (22%). The causal factors that influenced students to
participate in the striking were based on socio-economic, academic, and political factors.
Nevertheless, the study found that, the level of participation in strikes by males was 75%
while females were low by 5%. However, 20% of the respondents were not involved in
crises. Students with direct entry qualification were more active in striking by 75% than
equivalent entry students by 25%. The study showed that, the effects of students’ crises led
to rushed closure of institutions that affected more female students; also, the crises
hindered the improvement and progress of the institutions, devaluation of institutions.
workload to lecturers and students that resulted poor performance and poor relationship
between management and students, wastage of resources in terms of time and money. The
respondents provided the alternative solutions towards the crises by suggesting that, the
institutions should practice participatory leadership and the management should improve
social and academic relationship with students.Further, the Loan Board (LB) should
provide adequate allowances according to the real situation, the learning environment
should be improved and ordinary training to students’ leadership should be provided.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Loan Board, Higher learning institutions