Factors Influencing Open and Distance Learning Student Enrolment and Attrition in Tanzania Universities.
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Tavesure, E.
Issue Date
2022-05
Type
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The research is a qualitative study on students, parents/guardians and administrative officers using in-depth interviews that investigated the factors influencing low enrolment and high student attrition in Open and Distance Learning in Tanzania Universities. Numerous factors affect the low enrolment and high ODL student attrition rates in Tanzania Universities, when compared to the global enrolment and attrition rates. The low enrolment coupled with the high attrition have caused a lot of problems for ODL institutions, yet these factors are still not well understood and are therefore not effectively addressed or mitigated by Tanzania Universities. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify these factors, in order to generate practical recommendations that can be applied by the relevant universities. The data was discussed in a systematic manner using thematic analysis while being guided by the research propositions, research objectives and the literature review of the study. Using thematic analysis, the discussion strived to identify patterns of themes in the data. The discussion of the results was done in six steps, as guided by Braune and Clarke, which are familiarisation, cording, generating themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes and writing up. One key finding was made by this study. The finding is that all problems that are causing low ODL enrolment and high attrition in Tanzania context are institutional and ‘people’ related as they pertain to the institutions, their staff and the lack of competence to acquire potential students and retaining the current ones. It was discovered during the various discussions, that if ODL staff possess the requisite skills, all the other factors causing low enrolment and high attrition will be taken care of. The key message to ODL institutions in Tanzania is that they need to solve the ‘people’ problem by having competent ODL staff, which can be achieved by offering them training. Another key message is on the need for ODL institutions to come up with a marketing strategy, one that is clear on how to acquire new students and retain the current ones and link it with ‘people’ who are able to execute it.