Investigating Education Stakeholders Awareness and Acceptance of Open and Distance Learning in Simiyu Region.

Ndibalema, Kabyemela A. (2020) Investigating Education Stakeholders Awareness and Acceptance of Open and Distance Learning in Simiyu Region. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study was conducted in order to investigate education stakeholders’ awareness and acceptance of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in Simiyu Region, Tanzania. The study was guided by four objectives namely to assess education stakeholders’ awareness of ODL as a means of education and training in Simiyu region, second was to determine acceptance level of ODL in Simiyu region, to examine challenges of ODL in Simiyu region and lastly to identify strategies that can be employed to improve education stakeholder’s. The study was undertaken using a sample size of 200 research subjects by using questionnaires. The study findings revealed that there was limited knowledge of using ODL in Simiyu region. Moreover the findings revealed that there was negative perception about quality of ODL knowledge as 43.5% had the view that the knowledge provided was of low quality. This reflects the finding paused by SADC framework which also pointed out that there were no mechanisms or systems to regulate and monitor the quality and implementation of ODL programmes. Another challenge found by the study was the cost associated with ODL access as it was too expensive to reach the regional centre for accessing ODL services. The study recommends for proper policies to be put in place to guide ODL services. There should be a national policy framework to regulate and monitor provision of ODL programmes. The study also recommends increasing the number of ODL provisional centres to possibly district level through partnership with Private, NGO and international organizations. Furthermore, the study recommends the use of variety of media and technologies to install a quality assurance mechanism for ODL programmes to improve its acceptance. Keywords: Distance Learning, Open Distance Learning, Stakeholders, Acceptance.

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