Performance of Income Generating Activities in Secondary Schools in Muleba District, Kagera Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the performance of income generating activities (IGAs) in secondary schools in Muleba District of Tanzania. The study adopted the Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) which was proposed by Pfeiffer and Salancik in 1978. Qualitative research approach was adopted and multiple case study design was employed. The study involved 18 purposefully selected participants from six study schools in the district. There were 6 heads of schools, 6 teachers and 6 students. The teachers and students included only those who were supervising IGAs’ projects in schools.  Data was collected using in-depth interview, observation and documentary review methods and was analysed thematically. The findings indicate that different income generating activities performed differently. The income generating activities which performed well  included bananas, horticulture, forestry, fish and cow farming, poultry project and stationery services. Others were school shops and petrol station activities. The study revealed that there were different factors that contributed to better performance which included, among other things, the hiring of skilled personnel and close monitoring of the projects. On the other hand, goat farming and coffee farming did not do well due to diseases and fluctuation of prices in the market, respectively. Hence, the study recommends the need for provision of knowledge and skills on IGAs to students, heads of school and teachers for a fruitful operation, hence improving teaching and learning environment in schools.