Description:
This study sought to examine the influence of physical learning environment as a factor
influencing the provision of quality education in public secondary schools in Iringa Municipality.
Specifically, this study sought to assess the status of physical learning environments and how they
influence learning process in the provision of quality education. In addition, the study sought to
establish possible strategies to improve the physical learning environment in the provision of
quality education in public secondary schools in Iringa Municipality. The study employed mixed
research approach and the explanatory sequential design. A sample of 113 participants which were
purposively and randomly drawn from municipal education offices, ward education offices and 14
public secondary schools were used for the study. The findings of this study indicate that most
public secondary schools have poor and inadequate physical learning environment which have a
negative influence on the provision of quality education. This study concludes that physical
learning environments are not enough to support the provision of quality education in most public
secondary schools. Therefore, suggestions are made for the government to restructure its system to
participatory planning and budgeting for public secondary schools to improve the physical learning
environment. Besides, the government should enforce rules and regulation regarding registration
and opening of public secondary schools. By doing so, schools will start their programmes in
conducive physical learning environments. Still, parents should actively participate in improving
physical learning environments through activities like providing large pieces of land for building
schools, classes and contributing money for buying furniture required for students. Furthermore,
school communities should be encouraged to be creative and use their knowledge to improve the
physical learning environments in their schools.