Responsibilities and challenges of student mothers in Tanzania's secondary schools
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Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
Adolescent motherhood poses significant challenges, especially for student mothers who must
juggle parenting and education, unlike their peers who either attend school without children or
parent without engaging in education. This paper explores the responsibilities and challenges
faced by adolescent student mothers in secondary schools in Tanzania. An embedded single case
study approach was employed, focusing on student mothers as the primary case and five
secondary schools as units of analysis. Data were gathered through open-ended questionnaires
and focus group discussions and analysed thematically. Insights from 20 purposively chosen
student mothers indicated that they manage numerous responsibilities both inside and outside the
school setting. These responsibilities include academic, parental, entrepreneurial, and marital
duties (especially within convenience marriages). The overlap of these roles led to role conflict,
frequent absenteeism, diminished focus in class, discrimination, and stigmatisation, all of which
collectively obstructed their academic achievements. The study underscores the pressing need for
targeted interventions from education stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and
policymakers, to cultivate a supportive environment. The study concludes that support should
include financial aid and comprehensive guidance and counselling services to improve the
educational experiences of student mothers.
Description
Journal article
Keywords
Challenges, Motherhood, Responsibilities, Schooling, Student mothers
Citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37759/ejtl.2025.1.1.5