Mandila Ben Shikomera’s scientific contributions

This paper examined the emerging issues in curriculum and instruction during post–COVID–19 in Higher Education in Kenya. The paper ascertained the influence of post COVID 19 era teacher training in online pedagogy on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya, established the influence of post COVID 19 era paradigm shift from emergency based online content delivery to full time online pedagogy on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya, determined the influence of post COVID 19 era availability of online educational resources on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya and, finally, investigated the influence of post COVID 19 era education policy changes on curriculum and instruction in higher education in Kenya. The study employed the Classical Liberal Theory of Equal Opportunities which was advanced by Sherman and Wood and cited by Njeru and Orodho in 2003. A descriptive survey research design was used in the study. 1 dean, 10 academic staff and 225 students, all from the school of education, South Eastern Kenya University were chosen as the sample size using census sampling, simple random sampling, and purposive sampling procedures respectively. 236 respondents’ responses were gathered using a questionnaire, interview schedule and checklist for the study. The instruments were piloted to test their validity and reliability. Both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data were performed. It was hoped that, this study would be important because it would advance our understanding and help to shape future transformative pedagogical approach policies for curriculum and instruction in higher education. The majority of lecturers in higher education, according to the research, are untrained in online content delivery. The primary impediments to a shift to distance online learning during and post COVID-19, according to the findings, are technical resources and unequal access to education. As an alternative method of learning, online learning or e-learning mode, has been widely accepted and is proven to be an opportunity and a challenge as there is still unknown that is not giving the desired output in the teaching and learning process. The study also found that there were no defined educational policies in place to deal with crises like COVID 19, which might have an impact on how higher education institutions engage in the teaching and learning process. The study suggested that higher education institutions should invest in technology-use training so that teachers can better prepare students to use technology, especially in the context of new assessments, higher education institutions should secure more resources from a variety of sources, and universities should study policies to mitigate the effects of a diverse student body.

The study sought to investigate the influence of availability of internet connectivity on teachers’ integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in public primary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study objectives sought to determine the influence of the degree of internet connectivity in various categories of schools on integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning and in public primary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya and to establish the influence of internet accessibility on integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in public primary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. The study used Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge theory. The study used descriptive survey design. The target population of the study was 1County Director of Education, 356 public primary school head teachers and 3204 public primary school teachers. The sample size for the study was 1 County Director of Education, 189 public primary school head teachers and 356 public primary school teachers who were selected using purposive sampling, proportionate sampling, simple random sampling and census sampling techniques. The sample frame for the study consisted of 546 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedule. Data for this study was presented in frequency tables. Both a quantitative and a qualitative analysis of the results was performed. In order to determine the degree of relationship between internet connectivity and teachers’ integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in public primary schools, the Chi-square (X2) test was utilized. It was anticipated that, the planners and policy makers will use the study’s findings as a basis for revamping the country’s present internet strategy in order to address the problems impending teachers’ integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in public primary schools, students would graduate with knowledge and abilities that are competitive on a worldwide scale and go on to play an important role in the development of their country. The results of this study showed that, 76.12% of the sampled public primary boarding schools were connected to internet while 23.88%were not connected to internet. 12.84% of the public primary day schools were connected to internet while 87.16% of these categories of schools were not. The Chi-square (x2)test results showed that internet connection in public primary schools was not significantly different in public boarding primary schools than in public day primary schools (X2 =14.249, P Value =0.512). These findings indicate that, most public primary schools were not connected to internet and therefore, teachers’ integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in public primary schools in Kenya was minimal. The study therefore recommends that, the government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education should offer broadband internet connection packages to teachers at fair installment and payment terms.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of teacher training in information communication technology on integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in public primary schools in Kakamega County in Kenya. The study objectives sought to determine the level of teachers’ training in information communication technology for integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning; ascertain the influence of teachers’ academic qualification in information communication technology on integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning and to establish the influence of teachers attendance of in service course in information communication technology on integration of information communication technology in teaching and learning in public primary schools in Kakamega County, Kenya. Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge theory was used for the study. A descriptive survey research design was used for the investigation. The sample size was determined using the census sampling, proportionate sampling, simple random sampling, and purposive sampling techniques. The sample size included 356 public primary school teachers, 189 public primary school head teachers, and 1 County Director of Education. The study used questionnaires and interview schedules to collect responses from 546 participants. Tables and charts were used to present the data. The results were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The Chi-square (x2) test was used to assess the degree of correlation between teachers’ use of information and communication technology and teaching and learning in public primary schools. Cronbach alpha (0.05) was the criterion for significance. This study was significant since it increased our understanding and aided in the development of future ICT integration strategies for teaching in the classroom. The study revealed that the majority of public primary school teachers lacked Information Communication Technology training. In order to integrate ICT into teaching and learning, the study recommended that teachers acquire training in information and communication technology.