Teacher-Trainees’ Awareness of Teaching Professional Dress Codes in Universities in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which teacher-trainees in universities in the Kilimanjaro Region were aware of professional dress code teaching. The research was guided by one research question and the theory of Reasoned Action by Martin Fishbein and Icek Ajzen in 1967. A convergent design using mixed methods research methods was adopted. The target population included 2600 teacher trainees, 4 Deans of students, 389 Lecturers and 40 Wardens. Purposive and stratified random sampling techniques were used to obtain 318 respondents, of which 300 were teacher-trainees, 8 lecturers, 2 deans of students and 8 university wardens. Data were collected through questionnaires and an in-depth interview guide. Validation of the research instrument was done by three MWECAU research experts. The reliability of the quantitative data was determined using Cronbach Alpha, while the reliability of the qualitative data was determined through triangulation. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively using means, frequencies, and percentages with the aid of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 22 and presented in tables. The qualitative data were analyzed and interpreted thematically and presented in the form of narration and direct quotations. The study found that most teacher-trainees were aware of the Teaching Professional Dress Codes in Kilimanjaro Region. The study concluded that teacher-trainees were fully aware of the dress code and the mechanisms in place to abide by it towards professional development in universities in the Kilimanjaro region. The breach of the code is not because of ignorance but rather because of the reasons best known to them. The researcher recommended that the university administration, in collaboration with the student government, should continue to follow up on compliance with the dress code to attain a hundred percent. Training on dress code for teacher-trainees at the university level using guest speakers with work experience could help the teacher-trainees understand the actual expectations of the community they would be members of.