The Quality of Secondary School Education in three years Implementation of Fee Free Basic Education in Tanzania: A Case of Nzega Town council in Tabora Region.

The study analyzes the quality of secondary school education during three years of implementation of fee free basic education in Tanzania in Nzega Town council Tabora Region. The specific objectives of the study were; to investigate stakeholders perceptions on the quality of secondary school education policy, to find out stakeholders views on the implementation of fee free secondary education, to assess the prospects on the provision of fee free secondary education. This study employed mixed method approach. 348 respondents used in data collection by the use of Questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion. The analysis was done by using categories and thematic analysis, Statistical Package for social sciences used to analyze quantitative data while thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The study revealed that respondents perceive fee free education as a total exemption in contributing to pupils education costs, the capitation fund and fee compensation is not sufficient and not delivered on time, free education does not improve the quality of education as teachers are not motivated which reduces their morale, culminates the massive enrolment of secondary education students thus teachers students ratio is very high and a shortage of teaching and learning facilities thus affects the quality of education in the study area. Furthermore it was realized that the involvement of stakeholders was weak thus the educational circulars and policies are not well known hence lowers smooth implementation. 72.5% of teachers responded that fee free education is not completely free, while 89.0% of students perceived as fee free education not being free. 71.3% and 57.6% of teacher respondents reported to receive insufficient capitation fund and disagreed to be involved in the policy making process respectively. The study recommends observing quality secondary school education. Fee free education should be well understood to stakeholders. Teachers are to be motivated to increase their efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy. Keywords: Stakeholder, Quality Education, Secondary school, Fee Free Education