Learning has been part of the human race for years on end and it has been taking place ever since the beginning of time. As we grow up, we incorporate some tactics and skills to enable us to adapt to the world and to fully mature into functioning adults in society.
Learning in schools has been taking place on a one-on-one basis since time immemorial. With urbanization, this has shifted as schools and learning institutions are now incorporating technology into the system.
This means that both students and teachers have shifted gear from actively going into classes to holding classroom sessions and performing almost all school activities online. This includes teaching, group discussions, homework, research, and assignments are done online. This shift has however been a challenge to fully incorporate in all schools and below we shall discuss some factors affecting E-Learning adoption in schools.
Inadequate E-learning Materials
When the covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, 80 percent of students were reported to be missing out on education in schools due to a lack of E-learning materials. Research, reveals that students in private schools are twice likely to get access to these materials as they had access to them owing to their financial status as well as the privilege of being in the private schools.
Making these materials available in most schools could be a long stretch owing to the financial situation in the country and the piling debts but this is evidently the first step in ensuring that E-learning is adopted fully.
Lack of policies
Policies are available to ensure that the set-out rules and regulations are followed to the latter, to effect change.
Pre-Covid times, most families in Kenya were unaware of the need for schools to transition from traditional forms of education to E-learning. Very few schools were taking up this technique and ensuring that students attend online classes, did research and homework through these platforms.
Currently, most families are on their toes to ensure their children attend all these E-learning sessions, as the Ministry of Education gave this directive. As the pandemic struck, students were out of school for the longest time, and for the curriculum to keep moving, E-learning was mandatory.
Today, E-Learning is still being incorporated in institutions as homework and some training sessions are being conducted online.
Relatively expensive Internet packages
It is evident that internet access is available in most countries but not all. This especially affects African countries. In Africa, only 22 percent of the continent has access to an internet connection. This sheds light on the importance of ensuring most if not all schools and homes get internet access.
Kenya currently has high internet speeds and various internet service providers, and schools can leverage this to ensure E-learning is adopted.
On the other hand, a monthly subscription for WiFi is around KES 2,500, and not every family can access this to enable their child to keep up with the E-learning sessions.
Safaricom came through to solve this by extending free access to digital educational content for primary and secondary school students to 8th September 2020.
Generally, these factors have solutions that include the creation of policies by the government that governs the dissemination of information necessary for E-learning adoption.
Most Telecommunication companies should also leverage Kenya’s access to the internet to push more schools to subscribe by providing affordable packages.
The last solution is the government in collaboration with the Ministry of Education should introduce E-learning materials specifically for schools. This will ensure e-learning adoption and students will have access to information wherever they are.
A Kenya school of revenue administration graduate (tax administration nd certificate in customs and freight logistics) and a professional accountant, experienced consultant with a history in the business field and freelancing .skilled in taxation, accounting, secretarial, and writing
