Factors Motivating University Students to Study Adult Education

Abstract

This paper analyses factors motivating university students pursue an adult education programme [AE]. It was guided by Jour specific research objectives: to analyse the views and opinions of adult education learners on the relevance, mode of delivery and scope of the contetnporary AE programme at the University of Dar es Salaam; to examine the employment prospects and other opportunities for university adult education graduates in Tanzania; to explain the reasons for non-AE students being attracted to AE courses as their optional alternatives, and also to find out challenges and problems that students and instructors face in teaching and learning adult education courses and their suggestions on solution. The study used a single case study design and was carried at the Mwalimu Nyerere Mlimani Campus of the University of Dar es Salaam. The study was confined to a sample of 151 participants. The qualitative research approach was used in data collection and participants were accessed through questionnaires, focus group discussions, interview guides and documentary review guide. It was revealed that the majority of the University students were motivated to join adult education programmes because of the contexts and opportunities it holds. It was also revealed that some students were not significantly motivated to join the Programme because of the challenges facing the adult education field, both at the institutional and at the national level. It was concluded that contexts and opportunities are very important in motivating University students to study adult education. In its recommendations the study underscores the need for higher learning institutions to create conducive contexts that can attract University aspirants to enrol in adult education programmes. Also, adult education stakeholders need to be active so as to revive the status of adult education by preparing various researches reflecting the status of adult education in Tanzania by making a thorough fact gathering and analysis of the factors ascribing to the decline of AE in the country and propose practical remedies