The importance of community participation in ongoing construction of primary schools: Morogoro, Tanzania : a case of Mlali and Mzumbe Wards

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of community participation in on going construction of primary schools. A case study of Mzumbe and Mlali wards in Mvomero District. The study was guided by the four objectives which were, to assess the roles of local community participation in on going construction of primary schools, to find out the extent to which the Government supported in on going construction of primary schools, to identify the benefits of community participation in on going primary schools construction, to examine the Challenges which encountered during the ongoing construction of primary schools. Four data collection methods were employed which were observation, interview, questionnaire and documentary review. The analysis showed that the community were participated in on going primary school construction through, provision of money and materials contribution for example stone, sand and burnt bricks, in terms of decision making on the construction projects, in terms of labour offering, in terms of paying tax. The analysis also showed that, the government supported the on going primary school construction through provision of fund, provision of expertise e.g. civil engineer and provision of standard artectual drawings. The study showed the benefit of community participation in on going primary school construction includes ownership of the project, high enrollment of pupils in primary school, short distance to schools, meet construction of school target and participating in decision through school committee. The study showed the challenges encountered during the on going construction of primary school as follows, misuse of government fund, fund released for on going school construction was not enough to do all the planned activities, slow community participation in the contribution of materials, presence of famine, fluctuation of price of building materials, existence of multiple projects, HIV AIDS, and political ideology. The study concluded that Community mobilization is very crucial because it creates awareness among stakeholders, people become aware of their material resources, their leadership, their technical expertise and the kind of help they are likely to need from outside, people should be mobilized through education and training on the importance of their projects and to make them feel that projects belongs to them, with mobilization, various village resources should be identified and daily recognized within the rules and institutions that creates predictable and transparent framework of both private and public sector. In this manner, people will be in a position to make decision on matters concerning their social development. Involvement of people in on going primary school construction gives them power to make decisions pertaining to their social development, where people enjoy awareness of all the processes related to their social economic needs and inclinations. The study recommended that, at community level the school committees be strengthened in order to enable grassroots stakeholders including the poor women, young people and others who are by passed or marginalized to be able to influence decision making and transform schools through facilitating meaningfully participation, and there are many politicians within communities who can be very usefully in uniting peoples efforts to bring about primary education development .This includes ministers, members of parliament, respected retired officers and councilors. This people should be used to inspire and mobilized other people to bring about educational changes. They have the ability to create sustainability and development of primary school project in their localities.