The unethical behaviours of community secondary school students living in street-rented houses in Tanzania

Abstract

This cross-sectional design study sought to investigate the unethical behaviours of community-based secondary schools students living in street-rented houses in Nanyumbu District, Mtwara region, in Tanzania. The study used a simple random sampling method to get a total sample size of 107 respondents from Mikangaula and Mangaka secondary schools. Primary data were gathered through key informant interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions; and were analysed through the lenses of the virtue ethics theory. The finding revealed that street house-renting exposed students to a lack of parental upbringing and guidance, excessive and uncontrolled freedom, influence of peer groups, and unhealthy domestic activities. Students living in street-rented houses had several unethical behaviours, such as dropping out, truancy, engaging in sexual activities, alcohol consumption, arriving late at school, smoking marijuana and cigarettes, drug abuse, and having early pregnancies and/or marriages. The study, therefore, recommends that the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) should build school hostels in community secondary schools. In addition, the administrations of community schools should effectively implement rules and regulations in community secondary schools. Lastly, students who misbehave should be punished to shape them in developing good behaviours in the society, in line with the virtue ethics theory.