FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO LEADERSHIP SKILLS’ DEVELOPMENT AMONG PUPILS AT SIMBA WA YUDA ACADEMY IN SIMIYU REGION, TANZANIA

Abstract

The idea of this thesis was prompted by persisted lack of servant leaders in the society. This qualitative research was to investigate factors that participants deeply perceive as contributing to leadership skills development among pupils at Simba Wa Yuda Academy in Simiyu region, Tanzania. As societies grow into more complex communities, the importance of developing young leaders has become crucial. However, many learning institutions seem to be busy chasing after academic mean score while ignoring the work of nurturing children for leadership roles in the society. As such, students are usually given limited opportunities to develop their potential. It is because of this reason, the researcher investigated factors that participants deeply perceive as contributing to leadership skills development among pupils at Simba Wa Yuda Academy in Simiyu region, with the aim of identifying pupils talents as potential leaders and opportunities provided to nurture those young pupils to become good leaders. In order to achieve this data was collected through interviews among three focus groups: ten (10) standard six pupil, ten (10) standard seven pupils and seven (7) educators–two (2) managers and five (5) teachers. The specific ways of delivery and content of programs reported include civic education, religious education, counseling programs, debate and sports that the school uses to develop pupils’ leadership skills. The research participants suggested conductive learning environment and cooperation between school, family, church and government in order to effectively nurture children into responsible leadership. The research concluded that teachers and managers have the responsibility to teach godly character by being good example that pupils may emulate so that they become good leaders. The study calls for cooperation between school, family, government and church in holistic development of all children, regardless of gender, into leadership. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for primary schools, churches, institutions of higher education and Ministry of Education in Tanzania. Recommendations are: Mentor young children to become good and responsible future leaders; Families need to give children responsibilities to nurture them into leadership; church and government have the responsibility to support schools financially and help develop all children into good leadership. This includes girls and even children with special needs.