Community Perceptions on Teenage Mothers’ Re-Entry Policy in Secondary Schools :A Case Study of Lindi Municipality, Lindi Region.

Juma, Rajabu A. (2025) Community Perceptions on Teenage Mothers’ Re-Entry Policy in Secondary Schools :A Case Study of Lindi Municipality, Lindi Region. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study examined the Community Perceptions of Teenage Mothers’ Re-Entry Policy in Secondary Schools, guided by three objectives: exploring community perceptions on the policy's implementation, determining its impact on African culture, and identifying challenges facing re-entering teenage mothers in Lindi Municipality. Liberal Feminism Theory informed the study, which used a descriptive design. Data were collected via questionnaires from 34 respondents after a pilot study with 10 participants to ensure tool validity and reliability. Analysis was narrative and descriptive, employing frequencies and means. The findings revealed varying community perceptions: allowing impregnated students to continue studies was seen as potentially spoiling other female students' behavior but also enabling females to achieve educational objectives without contradicting cultural values. The re-entry policy was viewed positively for enhancing girls' future prospects, yet some believed it led to economic loss and moral decay, impacting cultural perceptions of female maturity and status. Challenges faced by teenage mothers re-entering school included stigma, lack of financial and academic support, discomfort studying with non-parent students, and balancing studies with childcare responsibilities. Recommendations include implementing mechanisms to maintain students' behavior, providing academic support to re-entering teenage mothers, integrating them into classes with non-parent students, avoiding stigmatization, providing financial support, encouraging happiness in studying alongside non-parent students, and promoting effective time management for studying and childcare.

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