Title: Factors influencing school management teams in implementing ICT policy in Botswana schools

Authors: Tshepo Kgwefane; Tshepo Batane

Addresses: Department of Computer Education, Molepolole College of Education, Private Bag 008, Molepolole, Botswana ' Department of Educational Technology, University of Botswana, Private Bag 00702, Gaborone, Botswana

Abstract: According to research, school leadership is the most deciding factor for a successful implementation of information communications technology (ICT) use in schools. This study investigates factors that impact school management teams (SMTs) in implementing ICT policy in Botswana schools. Data was obtained through interviews. The study found that the school management teams did not sufficiently drive implementation of the ICT policy in their schools and the reasons indicated were; lack of familiarity with the policy, curriculum overload, lack of assessment for ICT use, lack of training and no monitoring and evaluation. These results indicate that the school management perceive ICT use for classroom instruction as of less importance, warranting no urgency to pursue its implementation. The study highlights a need for a holistic approach to the education ICT policy process that would provide an enabling environment for school management to successfully lead implementation of the policies in their schools.

Keywords: school management teams; information and communications technology policy; learning; policy implementation; school governance; ICT integration; developing countries; school-based ICT policies; globalisation; computer awareness program; monitoring and evaluation; training; support.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIE.2021.114910

International Journal of Innovation in Education, 2021 Vol.7 No.1, pp.27 - 46

Received: 10 Apr 2020
Accepted: 24 Oct 2020
Published online: 11 May 2021 *

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