Principals' literacy in information and communication technology (ICT) : towards improving secondary school performance in Kenya

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the extent of ICT literacy among secondary school principals in the Western province of Kenya. A contemporary issue in the improvement of quality in school leadership relates to use of ICT; the assumption is that improving leadership is the key to good school performance. The research was triggered by the need for quality among secondary school principals and their preparedness to cope with technology change. A mixed mode methods research was conducted involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches. In this research 188 secondary school principals in the Western province were used for data analysis. An empirical investigation was conducted. School principals responded to questionnaire 1 which investigated ICT literacy. Deputy principals responded to questionnaire 2 which investigated school performance. Open-ended questions, semi-structured interviews and observation schedules were used to obtain qualitative data.