The use of ICT for Teaching and Learning among Secondary Schools Teachers in Mtwara, Tanzania: ICT, Secondary schools, Teachers, Teaching, Learning, Tanzania

ICT, Secondary schools, Teachers, Teaching, Learning, Tanzania

Abstract

The use of ICT in teaching and learning improve the quality and performance
of education delivery, administration and management. As the world is
moving fast technologically, it is important to assess teachers’ awareness and
abilities in using ICT for teaching, and if ICT tools are available in secondary
schools. The study had three specific objectives ; to assess teachers’ awareness
of ICT policy for Basic Education in Tanzania, teachers’ abilities in using
teaching and learning ICT tools, and the availability of basic teaching and
learning ICT tools. From seven public secondary schools, about 110 teachers
were involved in this descriptive study which was conducted under a mixed
approach. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were applied to assess
teachers’ awareness and current skills and practices in the application of the
available ICT for teaching and learning. The results of this study indicate that a
moderate number of secondary schools’ teachers were aware of the ICT policy
for basic education in Tanzania. Also, the results show that the majority of
secondary schools possess fewer teaching and learning ICT tools. In addition,
the findings indicate that most teachers have moderate abilities in using
ICT tools for teaching and learning. However, 91.5 per cent of male teachers
possessed more ICT skills than did female teachers. The paper recommends that
the Government of Tanzania invest more efforts and resources to integrate ICT in
secondary school education and raise teachers’ awareness of ICT policy through
seminars or workshops.