Teaching Gender in a Tanzanian Secondary school: A qualitative study of the curriculum of civics and experiences by Tanzanian teachers and students

Abstract

The theme of this study is gender in Civics Education in Tanzania. Tanzania is a country located in East-Africa, and has a population which varies greatly in ethnic background. The country has been criticized by the global community for having laws and regulations which hinder equal participation of both genders in education. My master thesis, seeks to address the current education about gender in one Tanzanian Secondary school. The content of secondary education is closely connected with the aims and regulations set by the Tanzanian Government. The research questions for this thesis evolve around the students and teachers perception gender, and how this aspect is taught in one Tanzanian Secondary School.

The fieldwork of this study was conducted in Tanzania, September to October 2018. I spent approximately six weeks in total at the given school where the data was collected by the use of qualitative methods. Observation and field conversations gave an overall insight in the practices of the school and the society. Individual interviews with teachers resulted in an insight in the teachers perception of gender and how they experienced teaching it. Group interviews which was conducted with students of Form II and V presented the students views on being male or female and their perception of education they are given about gender. Illustrations and revision exercises conducted with the students of Form IV gives an implication of the expectations of male and female in the society, as well as the students’ knowledge in the subject. Goodlad’s Curriculum Theory is the framework used to structure the analysis as it contribute in visualizing the connection between the various levels of which education in civics is enforced. The findings of this study is in general that the school and the government seeks to implement gender equal practices in the schools. At the same time, cultural practices and the existing gender roles in the society are challenging to change. However, civics is a subject with the ability to make changes and thereby create a more gender equal society.