Impacts of Socio-economic and Political Factors on the Implementation of IT Education in Embasneyti Wereda Secondary Schools

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate impacts of socio-economic and political factors on the implementation of IT education in Embaseneyti Wereda Secondary Schools. A descriptive survey design with mixed methodology was employed to conduct the study. Data were collected from 70 respondents who were selected using simple random sampling technique from Embaseneyti Secondary School and Getachew Weldu Secondary Schools. Data were collected using questionnaire and interview. Data collected via close-ended questions were analyzed using frequency and percentage using the SPSS version 21. Qualitative method was employed to analyze data gathered through semi-structured interview and open-ended questionnaire. Three research questions were formulated to assess the impacts of socio-economic and political factors in the implementation of IT education in secondary schools. Accordingly, it was found out that socio-economic and political factors had severe negative impact in the implementation of IT education in the secondary schools of Embaseneyti Wereda in central zone of Tigrai. In addition, the schools didn’t have basic computer infrastructure and internet facilities. It was also found out that students’ socio-economic background had great impact on the implementation of IT education in the school as they didn’t have access to technologies and internet service. Since the school’s budget source was limited to its own income generating effort and community contribution, the schools struggled to fulfill the IT infrastructure. Political factors also hugely affected the school as the previous war between the Tigrai Regional government and the federal government of Ethiopia destroyed the basic IT infrastructure the school had. The political tensions also resulted in limited emphasis on the fulfillment of IT infrastructure. Therefore, the researcher recommended coordinated effort by the regional education bureau, woreda education office and the ministry of education to fulfill IT infrastructure in secondary schools and to train professional IT teachers.