The Availability and Utilisation of Girls’ Hostel Services: The Case of Selected Rural-Based Community Secondary Schools in Igunga District, Tanzania Dr. Nemes Joyce, Mzimya Steven The University of Dodoma, College of Education, P.O. Box 259, Dodoma, Tanzania Online published on 22 June, 2018. Abstract This paper is based on findings on the availability and utilisation of girls ’hostel services in Igunga Rural Community Secondary Schools. The mainly qualitative study with some elements of the quantitative employed a cross-sectional research design. A sample size of 84 respondents-67 students, one District Secondary Education Officer, four heads of schools, four school board chairpersons, four hostel supervisors and four hostel prefects-was used to generate data through interviews, questionnaires, documentary review and observation. Out of 25 schools under study, only eight (32%) had hostel services to house 544 girls. Yet, only 285(10.5%) girls were in the hostels, with 259(47.6%) hostel places unoccupied. Most needy girls lived at home or rented unsecured private rooms mainly because of the high unit costs coupled with shoddy services. Superstitious beliefs and witchcraft fears also scared many girls away. Thus new innovative ways are necessary to increase both the quality and uptake in the girls ’hostels. Top Keywords Rural Community Secondary Schools, Girls Hostel Services, Utilisation. Top |