The Impact of Maasai Customs on Secondary School Girls Academic Performance in Kilosa District.

Mwanyika, Steven Fridolin (2020) The Impact of Maasai Customs on Secondary School Girls Academic Performance in Kilosa District. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the impact of Maasai customs on secondary school girls academic performance using Kilosa District as a case study. The specific objectives were: to investigate the extent to which Maasai customs are related to the Maasai girls access to secondary school education, to examine whether Maasai girls academic performance in secondary schools is negatively impacted by Maasai traditional customs, to examine the status of Maasai girls enrolments and retention in secondary schools as compared to boys, finally to ascertain strategies used to address traditional customs which prevent Maasai girls from accessing secondary education. The study employed mixed research approach and case study design with a sample of 85 respondents identified through simple random sampling and purposive sampling. Questionnaires, FGD and interview were used as data collection tools. Data gathered was then coded and analysed using SPSS. Findings indicated that awareness of the importance of girl’s education among Maasai society was a problem. Most girls supposed to be in secondary schools got married and those who managed to go to school didn’t complete their studies due to pregnancies ensuing from compulsory traditional customs. The researcher recommends that serious measures be taken by the government and related authorities in order to improve Maasai secondary school girls academic participation and performance in Kilosa District. Maasai communities should be made aware of all customs which undermine girls engagement in formal education especially in secondary schools and colleges. Hostels should be built for Maasai girls to protecting them from indulging in negative tribal customs that constrain their access and performance. Keywords: Academic performance, Customs, Maasai & Tradition

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