The role of school libraries in promoting students’ academic performance in Tanzania

Abstract

To achieve and ensure inclusive and equitable quality education that focuses on students’ academic performance while promoting lifelong learning, the government of the United Republic of Tanzania is committed to improving school infrastructure. This has been refl ected in various education development projects such as Primary and Secondary Education Development Plans of 2002-2006 and 2004-2009 respectively. However, from the researchers’ observation, much eff ort of such plans has been pressed in the construction of laboratories and manufacturing of benches for primary and secondary schools. A sample of students and teachers/ library staff was drawn from the selected secondary school in Dodoma municipality, Tanzania. Interviews and survey questionnaires were used to collect data which were analysed thematically through the content analysis technique and later by SPSS where descriptive statistics was used. The fi ndings of this study show that respondents had a positive attitude on the importance and usefulness of the library in achieving academic goals by the schools and students, and they as well believed that the presence of libraries could assist in improving students’ academic performance and achievements. However, there are many others than the lack of laboratories and benches that aff ect students’ performance in schools. One of the challenges is lack of well-equipped school libraries and trained librarians. As observed in most schools which had libraries, the services in such libraries were rendered by untrained librarians, resulting in ineff ective library services delivery in schools. This was irrespective of its recognized essentiality in the performance of students. The conclusion made is that school libraries are a good driver and an essential tool for student’s good performance and lifelong learning skills.