| dc.description.abstract | The study focuses on the factors influencing choice of distance education by teachers in early childhood programmes in Murang'a South District. As background to the study the researcher has reviewed relevant literature from a historical points of view, importance of distance education as a teaching learning mode, training of early childhood teachers from global, Africa and Kenya. In Kenya training of early childhood teacher is carried at regional levels by District Centres for Early Childhood Education (DICECE). Has also looked at the factors influencing choice of distance education by early childhood teachers as accessibility, flexibility, quality and cost of the program.
The target population of the study was based on the total number of students enrolled in the five early childhood centres during the year 2010-2011. By June-July there were five hundred students and a sample of fifty three students were sampled to participate in the study. Data was collected by the use of questionnaires. The questionnaire had two sections. Section A had personal details while section B had items seeking the factors influencing choice of distance education by teachers in early childhood programmes. Fifty respondents returned their questionnaires and responded positively.
The content validity of the instrument was done before the instruments were pre-tested and reliability was calculated using Pearson Product Momentum Correlation Coefficient. The study used descriptive survey design to analyze and present data. The researcher found that the early childhood centres do not provide the learners with study materials and it was the learners' responsibility to provide learning materials needed in the course. The study also concluded that the library services and internet services were extremely low among the students and this could limit learners access to learning materials.
The study made various recommendations. These included:-
1. The study recommends that the early childhood education institutions be enabled to develop quality study materials that are made available to all students in those institutions.
2. This study also recommends that the early childhood education institutions introduce a compulsory course in computer application for all registered students.
3. The study also recommends that the early childhood education tutors be trained on how to develop quality distance education materials.
Finally the study recommended areas for further research.
1. Study on factors influencing choice of distance education programme in early childhood education programme should be carried in other districts.
2. A comparative study of training early childhood teachers by distance learning mode and traditional face to face mode of study. | en_US |
