Conflict Management in Secondary Schools in Tanzania: A Case of Selected Secondary Schools in Shinyanga Municipal Council, Shinyanga

The study focused on Conflict management in secondary schools in Tanzania: a case of selected secondary schools in Shinyanga, Four research objectives guided the study: to identify types of conflicts occurs mostly frequently in secondary schools, to identify the causes of conflict in secondary school, to identify the strategies most adopted by the head of secondary schools in conflict resolution and to suggest the best strategy to be employed in conflict management among secondary schools. The study used survey design, where questionnaire, interviews and documents was used. The findings showed that, intrapersonal conflict (between member of individuals was highly rated by (35%); followed intergroup conflict (27.5%) and conflict between two or more individuals (13.3%). The results showed further that that there were several causes of conflict, but the most cause of conflict were lack of skills in conflict resolution by school heads (18.3%); low salary and promotion issues(17.5%); shortage of teaching and learning materials (13.3%); lack of proper communication (8.3%); negligence of parents on attending school meetings (5%) and students’ indiscipline case (5%). The result showed also that conflicts management strategies employed by Head of schools were (Forcing strategy 22.5%) was highly rated, followed by problem solving (19.5%); withdrawal (11.7%), smoothing and compromising (9.2%), open discussion (8.3%) and accommodating (6.7%).Lastly,the results showed that the rest strategies to mange conflict are; promoting negotiation among powerful groups (24.2%); mediation emerging party in involved the conflict.(on conflict resolving (18.3%); establishing good communication network among groups to reduce tension and transparency. Recommendations to improve skills and general ways to handle conflicts in schools are attached