Abstract:
The government of Tanzania is eying Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a
catalyst towards transforming the country into a middle-income. There have been several
initiatives to increase both the size and quality of ICT-skilled human resource base in
Tanzania. Thus, development of ICT programmes and specialised ICT colleges in Higher
Education Institutions has been the government’s concern. Consequently, number of
students enrolled to pursue ICT programmes have been in the increase. However, statistics
show that the number of females pursuing ICT programmes is constantly low as compared to
that of males. In 2022/2023 academic year, out of 8,499 students enrolled to pursue ICT
programmes in Tanzania’s Higher Education Institutions, 5,768 (67.9%) were males while
2,731 (32.1%) were females. Thus, this study quested the factors affecting female enrolment
in ICT programmes. A cross-sectional survey design was employed. Area of the study
included Moshi Co-operative University and the Institute of Accountancy Arusha in Tanzania.
A total of 122 randomly selected respondents consisting of students and admission officers
were involved in the study. Results confirmed low number of female students enrolled in ICT
programmes. Factors impeding females’ enrolment in ICT programmes included lack of
governing policies, lack of motivations for female students to pursue ICT programmes,
unconducive job environments, and community perceptions that ICT is for men.
Furthermore, the study found that among women in ICT programmes substantial part of
them (45.5%) were motivated by their personal interests. Therefore, it is recommended that
societies should prepare girls to undertake ICT career through proper upbringing. Also,
Higher Education Institutions and their stakeholders should develop awareness creation
campaign to encourage women to pursue ICT programmes.
