A mixed-methods investigation of constraints hindering school heads in the implementation of internal quality assurance practices in public secondary schools in Morogoro Region, Tanzania

The quality of educational outcomes in public secondary schools relies on the effective Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) practices in which school heads are key administrators. Grounded in the System Theory of Management, the study Investigated Constraints hindering School Heads in the Implementation of Internal Quality Assurance Practices in Public Secondary Schools in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The study adopted a pragmatist research philosophy, employing a convergent research design using a mixed-method research approach, the sample size for this study comprises 371 respondents, including 25 public secondary schools, 225 teachers, 100 Internal Quality Assurance Team (SIQATs) members, 7 Chief District Quality Assurance Officers (CDQAOs), and 7 District Secondary Education Officers (DSEOs) from the 7 districts of the Morogoro region. Questionnaire instruments were administered to teachers for quantitative data collection, and structured interviews were done with CDQAOs and DSEOs for qualitative data, as well as Focus group discussions (FGDs) with SIQATs. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 20, presented in frequency and percentages, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis procedures. The findings revealed that HoS encounter constraints, including inadequate resources, limited professional development opportunities, and bureaucratic delays, which collectively hinder the effective implementation of IQA practices. The study concludes that IQA practices are vital in fostering accountability and improving educational quality but require targeted interventions to overcome these constraints. The findings recommend sufficient budget allocations for IQA practices, mandatory capacity building programs for teachers and HoS, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders to align IQA practices with Tanzania's National Strategy for Quality Assurance in Education.