Secondary Education Development Plan (SEDP) and the provision of library service in Tanzania: a Case Study of Sumbawanga Municipality

Abstract

This article examines the status of school library service provision after the establishment of the Secondary Education Development Plan (SEDP) in Sumbawanga Municipality, Tanzania. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and observation from four secondary schools. Findings show that the surveyed schools had libraries, with various materials, like books, magazines, video and audio tapes. CD-ROMs and computers were rarely found. Findings also revealed that although there were some improvements in the quality of library collections after the introduction of SEDP, the library services offered did not meet learning and teaching needs. There were few books, and space and furniture were inadequate. It is recommended that school library services should be prioritized with a variety of resources in print and electronic formats. As a long-term measure school libraries should be managed by professional staff. Lastly, Education programmes like SEDP should include all education stakeholders, including library experts, who would advise the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MOEVT) and the government in general on issues concerning school library services.