TEACHERS’ INFORMATION COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY PREPAREDNESS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETENCY BASED CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN MERU SOUTH SUB COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Teachers are the implementers of curriculum hence play a significant role in developing and transforming a learner. Teachers’ competencies such as knowledge and skill in the use of digital devices in all areas of the curriculum delivery is crucial in order to make learning more captivating. The purpose of the study was to investigate teachers’ information communication and technology (ICT) preparedness on implementation of the competency-based curriculum. The study was carried out in public primary schools in Meru South Sub County, Kenya and adopted descriptive survey design. The target population was all preschool teachers in the Sub County. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample participating schools and pre-school teachers and head teachers. The sample comprised of 105 respondents, 75 preschool teachers and 30 head teachers. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedule. The research findings were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative data was processed and analysed with the help of the SPSS software version 22 and summarised into frequency tables and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the teachers had not been exposed to information communication and technology and most of them were not competent as they lacked technological skills. Hence, lack of information communication and technology skills among the teachers may hinder effective implementation of the competency-based curriculum. The study recommend that the Ministry of Education and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to organise for in-service training for teachers to adequately equip them with ICT skills and secondly the Ministry of Education should provide adequate ICT facilities ,employ technical support team for repair and maintenance of the ICT facilities and offer ICT technical support to teachers for efficient implementation of competency based curriculum. Keywords: ICT, Preparedness, Implementation, Competency Based Curriculum