CHALLENGES OF USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) IN THE TEACHING OF GEOGRAPHY IN MALAWI: THE CASE OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZOMBA URBAN

Abstract

It is now acknowledged that the Information and Communication technologies (ICT) are important to the advancement of knowledge and growth of a country’s development. In recognition of this fact, the government of Malawi has taken a step towards the integration of ICT in education. This study investigated the challenges of using ICT in teaching Geography in selected urban secondary schools in Zomba. To obtain the relevant information the study used concurrent mixed methodology which combines the qualitative and quantitative approaches. The theoretical framework of the study is Social Construction of Technology (SCOT). Self completion questionnaires, interviews and observation were used. The self completion questionnaires were distributed to twenty nine (29) teachers of Geography, only twenty seven (27) were returned. Four interviews were conducted with headteachers who were purposively selected. In spite of the positive attitude towards the use of ICT, the study revealed that Geography teachers faced a number of challenges including lack of basic knowledge in the use of ICT for teaching their subject, lack or inadequate hardware and software and lack of technical support. A majority of them never used ICT in the preparation or teaching the subject. In view of this, the study recommended that adequate resources be made available to the schools so that the institutions can buy the hardware and software as well as maintain the ICT devices to increase accessibility. In addition, pre-service teachers must be trained in ICT use at the teacher training institutions. In-service training should also be offered so that the teachers can keep abreast with advances in technology.