Tutor ICT Skills and the Realisation of Kenya’s Vision 2030

Abstract

The Kenya Vision 2030 identifies science, technology and innovation as key drivers in creating wealth, social welfare and international competitiveness. In recognition of the role of technology in achieving Vision 2030, the government pledged to strengthen technical capabilities by emphasising technological learning at all levels. The vision affirmed that it is only through an educated and skilled manpower that Kenya will be able to create, share and utilise knowledge well. To produce a workforce capable of fitting into the knowledge driven society, training of teachers in Primary Teachers Colleges was to integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in teaching and learning. The government carefully prepared ICT policies to guide the use of ICTs in teaching and learning as a proper way of imparting in teacher trainees the skills needed for preparing learners with the right training. Among the policies was providing extensive training to tutors on use of ICTs in teaching and learning. The study analysed the implementation of this policy in Primary Teachers Colleges. The analysis sought to find out whether and what gaps exist between the stated government policy designed to guide use of ICTs in teaching and learning and the actual practice during the implementation process. The study sites were four PTCs in Kenya offering certificate courses commonly known as P1 colleges. These were three public PTCs and one private college targeting college heads, deans of curriculum, tutors, students and Ministry of Education officials. The study applied multiple case study design in soliciting views, perceptions, opinions and experiences regarding implementation of government ICT policies. A combination of research instruments were used in collecting the data. These included:- questionnaires, interviews and observation schedules. The data was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively using SPSS. The study findings established that there were a number of inconsistencies in the implementation of government policies on use of ICTs in teaching and learning and the actual practice during the implementation process. Although the policy required that lecturers at PTCs were to attend ICT in-service training to integrate ICT in classroom teaching, 53.8% of the teaching staff had not attended any in-service training on use of ICT in teaching and learning. The study concludes that the identified inconsistencies in the use of ICT skills of tutors had impacted negatively on the preparation of primary teachers with competencies in ICT use, hence undermining the realisation of Vision 2030. Therefore the study recommends establishment of partnership between the government, private sector and the PTCs to equip the tutors with the necessary and relevant ICT training to allow integration of ICT in teaching and learning.