Attitude and Social-Cultural Challenges Affecting the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Secondary schools: A Case of Kibaha District in Tanzania.

Banele, Shima Dawson (2022) Attitude and Social-Cultural Challenges Affecting the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Secondary schools: A Case of Kibaha District in Tanzania. Doctoral thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the challenges of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in selected secondary schools in Kibaha District, Tanzania. Specifically, the study investigated school-based and classroom related social, cultural, and teachers’ attitudinal factors. This mixed-case study employed different data collection methods, which included documentary review, in-depth interviews, questionnaires, observation, and focus group discussion. A total of 169 respondents, including 145 classroom teachers, 12 heads of schools, and 12 heads of academic units, participated in the study. The data analysis was done using mixed methods for triangulation. The major findings of the study on teachers' attitudes indicated that teachers were aware of and accepted that technology was useful, but some were not ready to incur costs for purchasing personal devices and internet bundles, had low motivation and self-efficacy, were not comfortable with ICT training, and had gaps in ICT application that needed intervention. The study further observed that the cultural environment, such as school characteristics, teachers’ backgrounds, and classroom and school culture, contributed to slow technological adaptation. In addition, the social point of view presented factors such as low parental involvement and school board leadership expectations that limited the use of technology in classroom teaching and learning. The study concludes that the challenges raised have to be addressed if technology is to be effectively used in teaching and learning. The study recommended that teachers’ attitudes and social and cultural factors challenging ICT usability be resolved to enable mediated-classroom practices. Keywords: Social-Cultural, Information And Communication, Technology, Schools.

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