Educational Stakeholders' Attitudes on the Implementation of Teen Mothers and Return to Schools Policy in Tanzania

Abstract

Returning teen mothers to school has become a global issue that has generated much discussion for several years. After starting to implement the education secular act number 2 of 2021, which foretells the return of teen mothers to schools, the campaign that has been waged in various countries and the motive that was carried out by various international and national policies including the MDG before 2015 and SDG that is ending in 2030 as well as the Education and Training Policies (ETP) of 2014, has become real and true in Tanzania. The researcher of this study investigated the stakeholders' opinions toward the implementation of the adolescent mother return to school program as a result of the program's implementation process. With a sample size of 35 participants, the researchers used a qualitative technique and an explanatory case study design. Data were gathered through focus groups and interviews, then they were thematically analysed. The research showed that teen mothers who went back to school had favourable opinions of the teen mother's return to school program. However, they were constrained by the government's vow to establish a daycare program but have not yet done so, a lack of hostels, a poor supply of materials, being far from home, learning for too little time, and not having adequate facilities and equipment. From the findings, the study concludes that the mothers' return and access to education have impressive provisions such as unconditional readmission to different public schools and adult education centres. It is recommended that the government and other educational stakeholders should immediately take measures on the raised challenges in Tanzania.