Challenges Facing On-Line Registration Of Kenya Certificate Of Primary Education Candidates In Public Primary Schools In Khwisero, Kakamega County

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to investigate the challenges facing On-line registration of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Candidates in Public Primary Schools in Khwisero, Kakamega County. The objectives of this study were; to investigate the Head teachers Proficiency Level in the use of ICT in Public primary Schools. Secondly, to find out the availability of Computers in Public primary schools. Thirdly to establish how effective the new registration system was to public primary Schools. Finally the study sought to find out some of the challenges the head teachers faced with the use of ICT in registering candidates. The Innovation Diffusion theory was applied in the Study. Its Proponent was Rodgers in 2003. Technology is considered as a new idea, Registering Candidates online was perceived as a new idea to Public Primary Schools. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 58 Head teachers and 474 teachers of primary schools in Khwisero District. The sample consisted of 100 teachers and 10 head teachers who were selected using simple random and purposive sampling method. The instruments used in collecting data included questionnaires and interview schedules. The investigator sought the assistance of experts to get the validity of the research instruments during piloting. The study used test-retest technique to get the reliability of the research instruments. Spearman coefficient formula was used to compute the consistency of the results. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics after cleaning and coding. Quantitative data was analyzed using frequency counts and percentages this was presented using tables and charts. The results of this study showed that principals face various challenges when it comes to online registration of KCPE candidates in Khwisero district primary schools. As the study shows, a higher concentration of 40% (n=4) of the Head teachers found this process tedious and involving, 30% (n=3) found it expensive while another 30% (n=3) found it time consuming. On the other hand, teachers noted that lack of internet access and lack of electricity were some of the challenges. Majority of schools were also found to lack computers and power supply, both the principals and teachers were found to have problems operating computers indicating limited skills in ICT use. These are therefore some of the challenges that the researcher found to be facing principals in Khwisero district primary schools as far as online registration of KCPE candidates is concerned. The Study recommended that the Government should facilitate In-Service training to improve the competence of teachers in the use of computers. There was also need to upgrade the ICT Infrastructure such as Computer Laboratories and internet–connectivity.