Institutional Factors Influencing Integration of Information Communication Technology in Administration of Secondary Schools in Mbita Sub-county, Homabay County, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the institutional factors influencing the integration of information and communication technology in the administration of public secondary schools in Mbita Sub-county in Homa Bay County. It was guided by four objectives which were; to establish the influence of the availability of ICT infrastructure, ICT plan, Boards of Management, and the technical support, on the integration of ICT in the administration of public secondary schools. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The target population was comprised of 32 principals, 32 deputy principals and 160 heads of department in all the 32 public secondary schools in Mbita sub-county. The study sample comprised of 16 schools, 16 principals, 16 deputy principals, and 80 heads of department, randomly selected. Questionnaires and interview schedules were the main data collection tools. Qualitative data from the instruments was processed by first categorizing responses by coding and labelling each item according to themes. This also included the narratives and the direct quotes from the informants. Quantitative data was analysed by use of computer software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences-version 20). Data from field questionnares were sorted out, coded and entered into the computer for analysis to give descriptive statistics namely frequency distributions and percentages.Tables and figures were used to present a summary of the analyzed data. Through data analysis, the study established that ICT facilities such as internet overhead projectors, telephones, radios, computers, and digital cameras were either missing or available but inadequate in schools. This was as attested by 83.3 percent of deputy principals and 60.9 percent of head of departments. The study also established that there existed no independent ICT plan for acquisition, use and maintenance of ICT equipment in schools. From the study findings, 48.2 percent of HOD’s, 50.0 percent of deputy principals and 11.1 percent of principals said that the school Boards of Management played a role in the mobilization of funds for acquisition of ICT resources, employment of a technician in ICT and professional development of staff. The study further established that ICT technicians were very important for successful integration of ICT in the management of schools because they provide of maintenance services (83.8%), creation of internet connectivity (21.9%), assisting other ICT users (22.2%), designing of ICT programs (11.1%), and training of ICT staff and donation of some ICT equipment (6.3%). Based on these findings, the study recommended that, for successful integration of ICT’s in the management of schools, the Boards of Management of schools should give priority to the acquisition of ICT equipment and infrastructure, a comprehensive plan for the acquisition of adequate and quality ICT resources be developed by school management, employment of well trained personnel to take care of the available ICT resources. The study recommended further research on the influence of the age of the school principal on the integration of ICT in successful integration of ICT in the management of schools.