Challenges Faced by Academic Masters/Mistress in Monitoring Teaching and Learning among Public Primary Schools in Tanzania: The Case of Mbeya City Council

Abstract

Several studied have assessed the factors affecting monitoring of teaching and learning processes in schools. This study examined the challenges faced by heads of schools, academic masters/mistress and WEOs in monitoring teaching and learning among public primary schools in Tanzania with a case of Mbeya city council. The study involved 88 respondents who were of primary schools, school academic masters/mistress, teachers and ward education officers. Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques were used and the data was presented and analysed through descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that heads of schools, academic masters/mistress and WEOs were not performing effective various teaching and learning monitoring activities. It was revealed that there are various challenges facing the monitoring of of teaching and learning exercise such as poor school arrangement of the school related infrastructures, poor preparation of necessary documents and other teaching and learning resources, poor classroom conditions, shortage of time to carry out the exercise, poor communication among school stakeholders such as teachers, pupils and parents, lack of cooperation teachers, pupils and parents, poor organization of pupils and teachers for easy assessment and lastly high tension among teachers and pupils. In order to ensure effective monitoring of teaching and learning in public primary schools, it is recommended to the head of schools, academic masters/mistress and WEOs should be trained on specific school arrangement mechanisms for effective monitoring of teaching and learning activities. It is also recommended that the same should maintain cooperation among stakeholders; students, teachers, administrators, policy makers and academicians. Relevant data and monitoring feedback should be always taken into consideration while dealing with issues related to school monitoring.