Assessment of Free Basic Compulsory Education on Schooling and the Reduction of Child Labor in Tanzania

This study aimed to assess free basic compulsory education on schooling and the reduction of child labor in Tanzania. In late 2015 the government of Tanzania, under late president John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, announced the cancellation of school fees from pre-primary to lower secondary schools. The main goal was to ensure all children of school age attended the school. In January 2016, the implementation of free basic compulsory education commenced despite those efforts initiated by the government to tackle the problem of child labor hampering them from attending school. Unfortunately, child labor is still becoming out of control within society. This study employed qualitative methodology whereby secondary data (documentary review) from the Tanzania national bureau of statistics and the international labor organization were used to collect data. Data were analyzed through thematic content.

The findings revealed that, across areas in the country, the most significant proportion of children who attend school only is found in Dar es Salaam, with 86.7 percent (88.8 percent of boys and 84.8 percent of girls), followed by other urban areas with 68.2 percent and 39 percent for children in Rural areas. However, ignorance and lack of awareness from the parents and guardians in the society led to the increase of child labor among Tanzanians, especially in rural areas, where most people are not educated enough. The people in rural areas do not regard education as the most important for the future development of children. As a result, they do not send their children to schools, especially girls who always face early marriages due to cultural beliefs. In Tanzania, some tribes encourage only boys to go to school, while girls are supposed to remain home to take care of their siblings and wash dishes. Another reason that led to the increase of child labor in the country is that parents and guardians do not understand the importance of education to their children. Therefore, the government must educate the mass, especially in rural areas so, to make them aware of eradicating the problem. Thus, a researcher suggested that the government rethink the funding mechanism for students from poor and wealthy families. It means that children from low-income families must be considered by exercise, books, uniforms, and pens to reduce the burden on their parents and guardians. To sum up, the government should increase the education budget to reduce parents' burdens.