Assessment of public primary school teachers preparedness in the implementation of digital literacy programme in public primary schools in Imenti north sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preparedness of public primary school teachers in the implementation of digital literacy programme in Imenti North Sub County Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives; to establish infrastructural availability for the public primary school teachers’ usage in teaching and learning in implementation of digital literacy programme in public primary schools in Imenti North Sub County, to examine how public primary school teachers’ competence influence implementation of digital literacy program in public primary schools in Imenti North Sub County, The study sought to determine how public primary school teacher perception influence implementation of digital literacy program in public primary schools in Imenti North Sub County. The study also sought to establish how digital literacy content availability for the public primary school teachers influence implementation of digital literacy programme in public primary schools in Imenti North Sub County. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study was grounded on technology diffusion theory to explain the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The study had a target population of 596 respondents who comprised 59 head teachers and 537 teachers. The respondents were selected using proportionate random sampling technique where by a sample size of 137 was used. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires that were made up of both open ended and closed ended questions, also unstructured interview was administered face-to-face or over the phone. The reliability of the study was measured using test retest method. The Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and the data was presented in frequency tables, percentages and regression analysis. The study concluded that preparedness of public primary school teachers in the implementation of digital literacy programme was highly influenced by teacher competence followed by infrastructural preparedness and then by Teacher perception while digital literacy content had the least effect on implementation of digital literacy programme in public primary schools in Imenti North Sub County. The study concluded that infrastructural preparedness influences implementation of digital literacy program in public primary schools in Imenti North Sub County significantly. Even though the schools have electricity their computer lab have not been fully equipped. The implementation of digital literacy program has been delayed by inadequate internet connections coupled with inadequate digital literacy program devices for teaching and learning in the schools. Also, there being inadequate tablets for the learners and laptops for the teachers have negatively affected the implementation of digital literacy program in public primary schools. The study recommends that teachers and instructors need to be trained in basic ICT skills and ICT-based teaching methods to feel comfortable about using the materials. The study recommends that the governments should ensure that all the public primary schools are connected to wireless internet services; that primary schools should be assisted by both national and county government need to ensure that the schools have a complete computer lab that is fully equipped with enough laptops for the teachers and tablets for the learners. The study further recommends that head teachers and parents need to set up administrative committees to manage ICT facilities as proven to be very effective in ensuring the sustainability of initiatives.