EMPOWERING SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH ICT INTEGRATION: A HOLISTIC EXPLORATION OF CHALLENGES, BARRIERS, AND STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT IN RAWALPINDI

Abstract

The integration of ICT in secondary education is always recommended as a way of improving teaching and learning process; but this is faced with several barriers. The purpose of the study was to determine the challenges that are faced by the secondary schools in the implementation of ICT, to explore the infrastructural, financial and socio-cultural factors that hinder implementation, and recommendations on how to overcome barriers to implementation of ICT in schools. The present study used mixed methods convergent design that involved quantitative survey questionnaires and qualitative semi-structured interviews to capture the data. The participants for this study was selected using a stratified random sampling method in which 150 teachers and principals were asked to participate in the survey, out of which 15 participants, including senior educators and policymakers, was interviewed in-depth. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 28 where descriptive statistics were conducted, chi-square tests, and t-tests were used to compare groups. On the other hand, qualitative data was subjected to thematic analysis to capture the diverse views. These are constraints such as inadequate and unavailable ICT facilities, inadequate funding, and limited ICT teacher training especially in the public schools. The findings of the study also indicated that there were statistically significant differences between public and private institutions in terms of access to ICT and financial problems. Attitudes and culture also played a role in the level of ICT adoption, but not at the same level as in the case of resistance to change. To meet these challenges, the study provides high feasible, high effect recommendations such as infrastructure in ICT, teacher training, and finance. Awareness campaigns are also recommended as another approach that can be used to complement the others aimed at enhancing ICT usage. This paper therefore calls for the development of a national policy that supports the enhancement of infrastructure, building of capacity as well as sustainable funding for the improvement of the current state of technology in education in a bid to eliminate the digital divide.