Assessment of the Usage of Information Communication Technology in Secondary Education Delivery in Tanzania

Abstract

This c..turfy has assessed the usage of information communication technology in secondary school education delivery in Tanzania. The study was conducted in Mafia District Council, and has examined the level of ICT integration in secondary schools; the impact of ICT integration on the quality of teaching and learning in public secondary schools; challenges that hinder effective use of ICT in teaching and learning in public secondary schools; and suggesting strategies to overcome the challenges and enhance the effective integration ofICT in secondary schools. The study was theoretically be guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study used the explanatory research design and the mixed method approach. The target population was 4574 comprising secondary school students,teachers and ward education coordinators. The sample size was 380. Systematic simple random sampling was used to obtain 368 respondents who provided quantitative data; purpose sampling was used to get 12 participants who provided qualitative data. Structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, and interview guide was used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data was analysed by descriptive statistics. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The study reveals and concluded thatthe currentlevel ofICT integration in education delivery in secondary schools within the Mafia District Council(MDC)is perceived to be relatively low.Also,The study reveals and concludedthatthe level ofICTon education delivery is low.ICTintegrationonthedeliveryofeducationhaveimplicationsonthequalityofaccess to information, interactive learning, personalized learning, collaborative learning,remote learning. Also,the study reveals and concludedthatlack ofICT infrastructures,poorICT,lack oftraining, lack offocus onspecific subjects,lack of digital literacy,poor network connectivity, andlimited access to computing technologies are challenges affecting integration ofICT in education delivery. The study shows and concluded that providing training to teachers and students, ensuring availability of modern ICT infrastructures, ensuring availability of modern of ICT hardware,improvingnetworkconnectivityandminimizingcostofInternetconnectionare strategiesthatcanenhancetheeffectiveintegrationofICTinsecondaryschoolsinMafiaDistrict Council.TheStudyrecommendsthatMafiaDistrictCouncil,otherlocalgovernmentauthorities inTanzaniaandresponsibleministriesforeducationshouldprovidetrain'ings to teachers and studentsontheuseofICT,investinICTinfrastructure,ensurereliableInternetconnectivityand computerlaboratories,provideschoolswithadequatehardware, software,anddigital learnin