Relationship between head teachers’ level of ICT literacy and ICT integration in management of public primary schools in Tinderet sub-county, Nandi county, Kenya

Abstract

Integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in educational management has become one of the most effective factors that lead to provision of quality education worldwide. Thus, as schools are increasingly becoming ICT-mediated environments, the head teachers’ role as far as promoting their use and integration for teaching, learning and management cannot be gainsaid. Incidentally, most of the public primary schools in Tinderet Sub County are still stuck in the inefficient non digital management approach albeit having the basic ICT infrastructure. The purpose of the study was to establish the relationship between the level of head teachers’ ICT literacy and the level of ICT integration in public primary school management in Tinderet Sub County. The study was to specifically establish the relationship between the head teacher ICT literacy and ICT integration in communication, teaching and learning, financial management, and management of human resource data. The study was premised on diffusion of innovations theory by Everett Rodgers. The study employed a correlational research design. The study targeted 124 principals and 124 senior teachers from 124 public primary schools in Tinderet Sub County. Through simple random sampling, 94 head teachers and their 37 senior teachers were selected for the study. Data collection were collected through the head teachers’ questionnaire and senior teachers’ interview schedule. The questionnaire reliability was estimated by computing Cronbach alpha coefficient while validity of data collection instruments was ascertained through the university supervisors’ scrutiny and pilot testing. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The four formulated hypotheses of the study were tested by determination of the Pearson product moment correlation coefficients. Qualitative data were analyzed by thematic analysis. The level of ICT integration in school management in public primary schools in Tinderet Sub County was found to be low. The study found that there was a statistically significant and positive strong correlation between head teachers ICT literacy and ICT integration in human resource data management (r = 0.821, p = 0.02). Similarly, there was a significant correlation between head teacher’s ICT literacy and ICT integration in electronic communication and teaching and learning. However, the relationship between head teachers ICT literacy and ICT integration in financial management was found to be statistically insignificant (r = 0.348, p = 0.218). In order to improve ICT integration in public primary school management, TSC should make ICT literacy and book keeping competence as some of the requirements for one to become a head teacher.