Challenges in the Accessibility of Secondary School Education among Girls from Pastoral Communities in Tanzania: A Case of Barbaig Tribe in Hanang District

Abstract

Access to education among girls in many societies has faced many challenges making girls lag behind boys. However , little is known about the challenges facing pastoral societies' girls access to schooling.Therefore, this paper shed light on girls access to secondary education in the Barbaig pastoral pastoral society in Hanang District in Manyara Region. The study specifically examined the challenges girls face in accessing secondary education. The study used cross-sectional design and involved 210 girls from Dirma, Chief Gejaru and Mwahu secondary schools. Proportional and simple random sampling techniques were used to obtain respondents for this study. Data were collected through interview, focus group discussion and documentary review. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in data analysis. The results revealed that; shortage of girls facilities and services in schools, families low economic status, harmful gender norms, traditions and practices, early marriage and pregnancies, parents greediness of wealth, nomadic life style, large family size and long distance from home to school were some of the challenges facing girls' access to secondary education in the study area. The study recommended that, Education Department in Hanang District implement and administer an education policy that requires every student and every school school to be sufficiently provided with infrastructure and employ all workers needed. Also community sensitization on the importance of girls' education  should be done. These should be possible if local authorities will actively involve and team up with other stakeholders Barbaig girls' educational challenges