Strategies Used by Secondary School Teachers in the Implementation of Practical Skills for the Realization of Vision 2025 among Ordinary Level Secondary School Learners in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

Vision 2025 recommends that education should lead to high quality livelihood for all Tanzanians through strategies which ensure attainment of a level of tertiary education, hard        work and creativity through implementation of practical skills among learners. Strategies used by secondary school teachers in the Implementation of Practical Skills for the realization of Vision 2025 among secondary school learners have not been documented in Kilimanjaro Region. Thus, the aim of undertaking this study was to document this study and to find out common strategies used by secondary school teachers whether these strategies helped learners acquire practical skills for the realization of Vision 2025 or not. This paper addresses one of the research questions: Which strategies are used by secondary school teachers in implementing practical skills for the realization of Vision 2025 in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania? This study used convergent mixed methods design which is a concurrent design where qualitative data and quantitative data sets are collected together. The target population was 5278 people including DEOs, secondary school teachers, heads of schools, academic masters and Form four learners of government and private secondary schools of three district councils. Probability and non-probability sampling were used. Data were collected through questionnaires, interview guide, document analysis schedule and observation schedule. Findings indicated that commonly used strategies were developing practical projects for learners, assigning learners practical tasks such as farming, and demonstration of practical activities. The practical skill activities or tasks included farming, carpentry, cookery and generic practical skills developed included problem solving, critical thinking, creative thinking and digital literacy. Practical skills acquired could help learners in employment opportunities. In conclusion this implied that Vision 2025 could be realized through secondary education by learners acquiring practical skills which help them improve their livelihood. The researcher recommended practical skills to be developed to A level, Tertiary and University level; practical skill subjects focused in this study such as, agriculture and building to be made compulsory in all secondary schools. For future research, a study may investigate significant factors which influence the effectiveness of practical skill activities among learners in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania.