ASSESSING THE EXTENT OF INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN REHABILITATION SCHOOLS FOR LEARNERS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of Integration of Information Communication Technology in Rehabilitation Schools for Learners with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Nairobi County, Kenya. The Technology Pedagogy and Content of Knowledge (TPACK) model by Mishra and Koehler (2006) guided the study. A mixed-methods research design was employed. The study targeted 17 computer teachers and 114 learners with prior knowledge of ICT in two rehabilitation schools: Kabete and Dagoretti Girls. The researcher employed a purposive sampling technique to select teachers and 57 learners, translating into 66 participants. Data was collected using questionnaires for teachers and questionnaires for learners. The pilot study was done in a rehabilitation school in Kiambu County. Expert judgment was also used in the research instruments to enhance the validity. The reliability of the research instruments was calculated using Cronbach's Alpha, and the results showed that the teachers' and learners' questionnaires had correlation values of 0.81 and 0.79, respectively. The collected data were both qualitative and quantitative. The quantitative data were summarized in descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Science (version 28.1). This involved summation, calculating frequencies and percentages, and determining the mean and standard deviation. Measures of central tendency helped show the trend, while measures of variance, such as standard deviation, helped show dispersion in the data. Qualitative data collected from the open-ended questions in the questionnaires were subjected to content analysis and were summarized thematically. The findings revealed that while a substantial percentage of teachers have received training in ICT, there are still significant gaps in the actual implementation and integration of these technologies in the classroom. The study revealed that teachers generally possess positive attitudes toward the use of ICT, recognizing its potential to enhance learning outcomes for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. The study concludes that the lack of adequate infrastructure, tailored training, and consistent administrative support are significant barriers that need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of ICT in enhancing the learning experiences of students with emotional and behavioural disorders. It was recommended that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with other stakeholders, prioritize resource allocation to rehabilitation schools to ensure adequate access to ICT infrastructure.

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