Factors Influencing Principals’ Integration of Information Communication Technology in the Administration of Public Secondary School in Vihiga County , Kenya

Abstract

Integration of ICT in the administration of public secondary schools is one way of enhancing education in Kenya. However, most schools are yet to integrate technology despite being endowed with ICT resources, numerous government policies on ICT and donations of ICT resources by education partners and other players. Thus, this study focused on exploring the factors influencing integration of ICT in the administration of public secondary schools in Kenya. In particular, the research focused on four specific objective which assessed how the use of ICT, mobilization of ICT infrastructure, accessibility to ICT infrastructure and ICT literacy influences school principals’ integration of ICT in administration of public secondary schools in Vihiga County, Kenya.The research was guided by activity theory(Kuuth,1996) that involves integration of technology as tools to mediate social action.Descriptive research survey design was used to carry out the study where the target population was the 160 public secondary schools in Vihiga County and the unit of observation where 160 BOM chairs, 160 BOM secretaries, 160 Parents’ Association chairs, and 576 Heads of Departments and 5 QASOs. The sample size which formed the unit of analysisinvolved; 40 BOM chairs, 40 BOM secretaries, 40 PA chairs, and 135 Heads of Departments and 4 QASOs selected by using both simple random and purposive sampling. The study employed a questionnaire and interview guide to collect data. Descriptive statistics involved the use of frequencies, means and standard deviations. Qualitative data was coded into relevant themes for interpretation while inferential statistics involved Pearson correlation coefficient which was employed to ascertain the degree to which independent variables exert effect on the dependent variable. The findings of the study indicated that there is a strong positive correlation between the use of ICT (0.736), mobilization of ICT infrastructure (0.594), accessibility to ICT infrastructure (0.683) and ICT literacy (0.745)and ICT integration in the school administration. The correlation coefficient of the four variables suggest a positiverelationship between the variables (p=0.001). However, the study noted a number of challenges hindering the ICT integration in the school administration. Therefore, it recommended the need of addressing the challenges in order to improve ICT integration in the school administration.