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This study investigated the impact of Fee Free Primary Education (FFPE) on pupils‟ enrollment and school physical facilities in Ikungi District of Singida Region in Tanzania. Specifically, the study examined the impact of FFPE on pupils‟ enrollment, determined availability of physical facilities as well as exploring the school strategic responses to the problem of inadequate physical facilities. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design using a mixed research approach. Data were collected from 135 respondents sampled through purposive and simple random sampling techniques through questionnaires, interviews, documentary review and direct observation. Data analysis was done using Social Package for Social Science Studies (SPSS), version 22, and Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA). The findings of the study showed that, in 2015, the enrollment in all schools under the study ranged from 60 to 90 pupils, while it ranged from 70 to 115 in 2016, 71 to 120 in 2017; and from 91 to 173 pupils in 2018. Thus, it was concluded that the implementation of FFPE has a positive impact on pupils‟ enrollment in Ikungi District primary schools. Conversely, FFPE has negative impact on school physical facilities in Ikungi District because the schools have classroom-pupils ratio ranging from1:66 to 1:101; pit latrine-pupils ratio range from 1:41 to 1:461 for boys and 1:46 to 1:140 for girls; desks pupils ration range from 1:4 to1:7 and teacher pupils ratio range from 1:40 to 1:134. However, the schools have devised some strategies to cope with the shortage of facilities, including having two shifts in a day and
collaborating with the society and parents to construct more physical facilities. Following these findings, it is recommended for proportional allocation and improvement of the school physical facilities in our public primary schools in accordance with the number of enrolled pupils. |
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