Trauma Leaves Children Behind: Impact of Psychological Distress on Children’s Learning

Abstract

Tanzania has been prone to both natural and man-made disasters such as droughts, floods, accidents, earthquakes, and locus invasions. These disasters affect livelihoods; destroy infrastructure, cause food shortages and health problems. The Uncontrolled explosions of bombs on 29th April 2009, at the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) armouries in Mbagala military facility, in Dar es Salaam must have been a terrible experience, with psychological as well as physical consequences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological effects of bomb blasts on academic development among the children involved in the tragedy. It was put forward that the studied children would exhibit psychological disorders resulting from bombs blasts, and such disorders would have impact on their learning. This study was qualitative in nature, and purposive sampling was applied in selecting both students and teachers for the study. The study was conducted in the two primary schools (Maendeleo and Mbagala Kuu) that are too close to the military base where the bombs exploded. It was found that bombs blasts had caused intrusive thoughts, frustrations and low confidence to the children, which in turn affected their academic performance, mainly in mathematics and science subjects. The study suggests that these children should be supported just as it is for students with special educational needs.