Factors Influencing Education During the Covid-19 Pandemic, a Case of Primary Schools in Kajiado County

Abstract

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a public emergency threatening global health due to its infectious nature causing millions of deaths around the world. On March 13, 2020, Kenya reported the first case of COVID-19 which prompted the Government of Kenya to temporarily close down public places as a measure of curbing the spread of this virus. Social distancing was recommended as one of the measures to stop the transmission of the virus. The Ministry of Education encouraged the use of remote learning to ensure continuity of education. However, implementation of remote learning was faced with numerous obstacles. It is therefore important to understand the adoption components and the challenges that face the implementation of distance learning. This research explored critical factors influencing education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. Descriptive survey research design was used to carry out the research. The target population was primary schools in Kajiado County. The study consisted of both teachers and students. Questionnaires were used to collect data and descriptive analysis was used. From the analysis, ICT infrastructure, digital skills and financial challenges had a significant influence on education in Primary Schools in Kenya and had a negative impact on the students who lacked them. Keywords: Education, COVID-19