DefinePK

Abstract

This paper draws from a study anchored on the principles of the Pragmatic research paradigm. It contributes to the ongoing discourses on the enduring centrality of literature as a strategic product of society that continues to play significant roles in propping and propelling society through the variegated complex experiences of times. The paper speaks to the challenges that hinder smooth realization of key objectives of the Tanzanian curriculum for Literature in English by illustrating stakeholder perspectives on some of the challenges including those arising during the middle phase of the implementation process by school managers and teachers while cascading the objectives by preparing and applying professional documents to actual teaching and evaluation. Qualitative and quantitative data are collected in Mwanza Region of Tanzania through observation of curriculum activities at school, interviews and documentary review which at school as well as from the vertical government offices. Data are then analysed showing the challenges and related perspectives for which concomitant illustrations are given mainly qualitatively and partly quantitatively. The paper concludes that the curricular objectives remain noble and implementable, Literature in English is appropriately included among the disciplines implementing the curriculum objectives but, as a subsector of the Ministry, it is inadequately resourced and managed and, in the current state, has no capacity to perform better for realisation of the objectives. The paper recommends that the government develops a comprehensive staffing plan which should begin with facilitating other universities in Tanzania to supplement efforts by university of Dar es salaam in offering postgraduate programmes in literature so as to supply more teaching staff to the existing teacher training institution to boost admission numbers for trainee teachers of the subject. It further recommends urgent engagement of all levels of Quality Assurance stakeholders for identification and address of performance gaps while considering introduction of the contracting model of performance management in public service. Related studies are recommended in other disciplines for interdisciplinary synergy with a view of better performance in cascading and implementing curriculum for realisation of its objectives. A shift to paradigm based approach to research is recommended.