Evaluation of Issues on Financing Higher Education in Tanzania: A Perspective and Experiences from Parents in Mbeya Region.

Salum, Ramadhan (2023) Evaluation of Issues on Financing Higher Education in Tanzania: A Perspective and Experiences from Parents in Mbeya Region. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study evaluated issues on financing higher education in Tanzania specifically the perspective and experiences from parents in Mbeya region. The study adopted a qualitative research approach using a phenomenological research design. The study was guided by four objectives includinganalyse the parents’ understanding in higher education financing mechanisms, examine the experiences of parents in mechanisms to financing higher education, assessing issues in policies and guidelines on parents’role in mechanism and explore the parents’ views on developing trends in the financing of higher education in over time. A sample of 30 participants was involved. Data were collected through interviews and then subjected to content analysis. The study found that, most of the parents are aware of the cost of taking a student to University in Tanzania. The mechanism has increased the access to higher education.Also, the study revealed that most parents lack awareness on the policythat governsthe financing of higher education. Furthermore, the study found that the mechanismis dynamic and ever-changing. The study recommends that the government should promote awareness among parents, there is a need for the responsible organ on the financing of higher education to undertake basic changes that are related to financing mechanisms, there is a need for policy to be reviewed and the role of parents should be clearly stated. Furthermore, there is a need for thegovernment to prepare suitable and friendly environment to facilitate easy repayment of loans. The study concludes that most of the parents are aware of the cost of taking a student to a University in Tanzania; the mechanism has increased access to higher education;also, most of the parents’ lack awareness of the policy that governsthe financing of higher education.

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