Awareness of Secondary School Students on Various Gender Perspective Programmes Conducted by the University of Dar Es Salam, Tanzania

Abstract

Gender imbalance is a common phenomenon in many educational institutions especially in developing countries. To overcome this imbalance, The University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM) through its Gender Dimension Programme Committee (GDPC) has introduced gender-biased programmes with the aim of increasing female students’ enrolment at UDSM'. These programmes include Pre-entry Programme (PEP), Female Undergraduate Sponsorship Programme (FUSP) and Lower cut-off points. A cross section study was conducted in secondary schools in Dar Es Salaam region between August 2004 and July 2005 to investigate student awareness of these programmes. A total of276 students from 13 randomly selected secondary schools participated in the study. Self-administered questionnaires and checklists were used and the data were analysed by statistical software Epi Info 2002. The study showed that the majority of the students were familiar with the concept of ‘gender’ but could not specifically define what it was. They were not even aware that the University of Dar- Es-Salaam (UDSM) had gender intervention educational programmes in place. It is recommended that University gender programmes and general information on gender issues should be disseminated to society as a way of improving gender relations.