Effects of Demographics and Student-Parent- Related Factors on Human Capital Development among Rural Secondary School Students in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

It is commonly presumed that schooling, including secondary education, is among the important contributors to human capital development (HCD) in terms of skills, knowledge and self-esteem acquisition. Information concerning the effect of demographic
and student-parent-related factors on HCD among secondary school students is scarce, specifically in Tanzania. Thus, this chapter aims to assess the effect of these factors on HCD among secondary school students in Rombo District, Tanzania. The study
employed a cross-sectional research design and involved 385 form four (F4) students from eight secondary schools, together with some key informants. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and key informants’ interviews. Association between variables was determined by using Pearson’s Chi-square (χ2) test and ANOVA, while the strength of the association was interpreted using Cramer’s V score. The study findings indicate a significant association between students’ poor home learning environment and their HCD level (χ2 = 15.486; p < 0.01), as well as between parents’ marital status and their human capital (HC) scores (F = 5.119; p < 0.05). A positive significant association was also observed between the two variables, with Cramer’s V score = 0.201 at a 5% level. It is concluded that secondary education is useful to students’ present and future lives; thus, it is important to deal with the factors that influence their HCD. It is recommended that government education planners and policy agents need to come up with strategies to alleviate the effects of demographics and other factors on the development of students’ HC. This can be done by educating parents on how to improve the home learning environment through the provision of books to their schooling children. Correspondingly, wherever possible, the government should supply enough books to the schools for the students to borrow and read at home.