Effects of teachers demographic variables on implementation of Information Communication Technology in public secondary schools in Nyeri Central district, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of teachers' demographic variables on implementation of Information Communication Technology in public secondary schools in Nyeri Central district, Kenya. The dependent variable was implementation of ICT and the independent variables were teachers' age, level of education, teachers' locality, teaching experience, training and gender. The research design used was descriptive survey design. The target population was 275 teachers working in 15 public secondary schools in Nyeri Central district. The sampling design was stratified random sampling and sample size was 82 teachers. The study targeted 15 principals of the schools in Nyeri Central district. The data collection tools were questionnaires, interview schedule and observation schedule.

Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The research study revealed that teachers' demographic variables affected ICT implementation in public secondary schools. Male respondents were found to use ICT more than female respondents and thus gender influence ICT implementation. Teachers' training in ICT, age, education level, teaching experience and locality are not consistent in affecting ICT implementation. Many schools especially in rural areas had not embraced ICT mainly because teachers lacked adequate training, had lower levels of education, and had negative attitude towards ICT implementation. This has led to schools facing major challenges in ICT implementation.

The researcher recommends that Public secondary schools should find a way to purchase more lCT facilities and support teachers' training on the use of lCT.The government needs to give more financial support through free education programme and donations to enhance let implementation in public secondary schools. The teachers should change their attitude towards the use and implementation of lCT in the schools so as to create information technology culture in all aspects of teaching and learning.