Socio-Economic Challenges Facing Single Mothers in Supporting Their Children Secondary Education: A Case Study of Temeke Municipality.

Mkumbwa, Mariam Hussein (2023) Socio-Economic Challenges Facing Single Mothers in Supporting Their Children Secondary Education: A Case Study of Temeke Municipality. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study has as main title “Socio-Economic Challenges Facing Single Mothers in Supporting Their Children Secondary Education: a Case of Temeke Municipality”, the general objective of which was to examine the socio-economic challenges facing single mothers in supporting their children secondary education. This was mixed research design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches during data collection. Therefore, the study involved 54 participants whereby 40 of them responded to interview questions while 14 respondents had their information collected using questionnaires. The findings showed that majority of single mothers rely on informal and low-paid economic activities hence facing economic challenges that brings hardship to meet the school requirements of their children. While on the issue of social challenges, the findings showed that most of single mothers in study area (75%) were not in good relationship with their ex-partners, and children on their side approximately 85% neither communicated nor got any assistance from their said fathers. On the other hand, 14.3% and 4.8% reported being socially stigmatized and accused of immorality respectively, due to most of them having children without being married. The study proposes to community at large to be tasked to bear the burden of meeting the cost of children from single mothers’ families. Also, the government should establish family-friendly policies enforcing both parents to invest their time and resources in their child development. Finally, more direct supports to single mothers are needed to enable students from single mothers’ families in their academic development. Keywords: Single mother, Socio-economic challenges, Children, Secondary School Education.

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