African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July 1979: Rural vocational education in Tanzania: an exploratory research
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Date
1979-07-07
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African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research
Abstract
This report documents exploratory research conducted by R. Mshana and T. Bhita on rural vocational education in Tanzania, aiming to address youth unemployment by equipping primary school leavers with practical skills for self-employment. The research critically examines the inherited class-based education system, emphasizing its limitations in a dependent economy. It explores efforts by the Christian Council of Tanzania to collaborate with the government in transforming vocational education to support rural development. The research methodology focused on community participation, involving teams of local workers, peasants, and students, and underscored that research should not be monopolized by academic institutions. The project fostered a dialogue on democratizing knowledge and empowering communities through participatory research.
Description
The research provides an in-depth analysis of vocational education's role in addressing unemployment among Tanzanian youth, particularly those unable to progress to secondary education. It critiques the existing education system's alignment with colonial-era structures, which prioritized meritocracy and wage labor in urban centers. The study advocates for a vocational model aimed at rural self-employment, facilitated through participatory research. Challenges included resistance from local bureaucrats, skepticism towards non-academic researchers, and obstacles in ensuring community-led data collection. The project contributed to redefining community-based research approaches and encouraged a shift toward inclusive, locally driven knowledge production.
Keywords
Vocational Education, Youth Unemployment, Participatory Research, Tanzania, Christian Council of Tanzania, Rural Transformation, Self-Employment, Social Research, Community Engagement
Citation
Mshana, R., & Bhita, T. (1979). African Regional Workshop on Participatory Research, Mzumbe, 2nd - 7th July 1979: Rural Vocational Education in Tanzania: An Exploratory Research.