Evaluation of Success of NEPAD’s Pilot e-Schools in Kenya: An overview

This study was conducted to evaluate the success of the pilot phase of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) e-School project in Kenya. The study employedsurvey research methodology. All six of the NEPAD e-Schools in Kenya were included and the teachers and students in those schools formed the study population. Of the 5,186 students and teachers, a representative sample of 1,508 was selected using probabilistic techniques. Data was collected using observations, interviews, and a survey questionnaire. It was established that all six of the eSchools had installed the basic computing facilities required for integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning and all the e-Schools were observed to have the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) for internet access in computer laboratories, where a variable number of computers were installed. But while teachers received technical (ICT) training, they did not receive training on pedagogies for ICT integration in teaching and learning. We conducted hypothesis testing and confirmed that six of the seven e-School Success Model’s dimensions positively contribute towards the success of the e-School. We, therefore, conclude that the pilot phase of the NEPAD e-School project in Kenya has considerable potential for success. We recommend that stakeholders should continue investing in the NEPAD e-School project. Further studies on the impact of e-Schools are recommended.