Students’ Preparation from Post-secondary to Higher Education and Working Life: Information Gap for Successful Transitions in Tanzania

Abstract

This paper aims to explore student’s pathways to post-secondary education in terms of trustworthiness of relevant information about  university education, working life and respective successful transitions. It is anchored on the boundary crossing conceptual framework to  explain the gap existing between secondary school, college and working life choices. Using a case study design, a list of questions  collected during 2016 TCU exhibition at Mzumbe pavilion has been analysed and reveals a range of information gap amongst prospective  university applicants. In addition, by reviewing relevant literature on students’ transition, analyzing relevant documents, this  paper offers an understanding of initiatives used by various stakeholders to prepare students for higher education and working life and  associated challenges. The review of literature and documents reveal that there are no clear coordinated strategies across stakeholders  with regard to preparing students for post-secondary education and career progression on the one hand and there are insufficient  welfare support services to students to promote the needed information on the other. Based on the challenges and conclusion, some recommendations have been proposed as a basis for best practices to address the post-secondary transition paradox.