RUAHA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the re-entry policy on the retention of teenage mothers in public secondary schools in Tanzania. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study sample comprised thirty teens mother students from form one to form three in three secondary schools, ten head of schools, ten secondary school guidance and counselling teachers. Purposive sampling and snow balling sampling techniques were applied. Data were collected through interview and documentary review. Data from both interviews and documentary review were analyzed thematically and presented in quotations and narrations. The findings of the study indicated that the re-entry policy had a significant impact on teen mother students’ retention in schools except in few schools whereby the findings indicated that the policy did not have significant impact. Despite the opportunities the policy offered, some students did not want to come back to schools anymore. They engaged themselves in other social life activities such as petty business and vandalism. The study recommended that more sensitization should made to all people, the leaders, parents, students and teachers on the importance of this policy to the livelihood of girl students particularly those in secondary schools.

Re-entry policy, Impact, Teen Mothers