ASSESSING STUDENTS’ AND PARENTS’ AWARENESS OF PROCESS AND RIGHTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS LEADING TO SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN TANZANIA: A CASE OF LUDEWA DISTRICT COUNCIL

This study aims to assess the awareness of dropouts and parents about their rights in the process of disciplinary decisions that lead to expulsion of students from secondary schools in Tanzania. Its aims are: - (i) to assess dropouts’ and parents’ involvement in disciplinary proceedings in Ludewa District Council, (ii) to determine dropouts’ and parents’ awareness of their rights in disciplinary actions in Ludewa District Council, and (iii) to assess dropouts’ and parents’ awareness of re-entry into mainstream education according to the Tanzania education circular number 2 of the year 2021. A total number of 100 dropouts (59 males and 41 females) and 100 parents (49 males and 51 females) participated in the study. A structured interview guide was used for both parents and dropouts. Data were not normally distributed which necessitated the use of non-parametric tests of significance. Reliability of the dropouts structured interview guide was measured and Cronbach’s alpha found to be .857 which is good and that of parents was .702 which is acceptable. Findings showed that there is varied involvement of dropouts and parents in the disciplinary proceedings in Ludewa District Council among secondary schools in that some schools involve parents and students in the while other schools do not. Dropouts were not aware of their right to appeal against expulsion whereas parents showed awareness of their right to appeal. Majority of dropouts and parents were not aware of presence of a chance to re-enrol into main stream secondary education according to the Tanzania education circular number 2 of the year 2021. The study concludes that mass education is needed to the students and parents on the availability of second chance of dropouts to re-enrol into secondary schools. Further studies can be done to investigate schools’ provision of education on the rights of students in education.