Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become pivotal in our daily lives and educational institutions' teaching and interaction between instructors and learners. As a result, universities are restructuring their curriculum and classroom instruction bridging the digital gap between education and learning. However, research seldom centers on policies and infrastructure challenges as key ICT implementation factors. Empirical literature identified a substantial technological gap among the ICT policies and infrastructure that significantly influences ICT implementation. The review is essential given the different cultural contexts in which the interplay between ICT implementation, ICT policies, and infrastructure, of which the documentation has been relatively minor. The present study centers on the complex interplay between policy and infrastructural challenges that influence ICT implementation. In line with the study target and contributing to the existing literature, the researcher analyzed the literature drawn from qualitative and quantitative studies from different sources. The review established that ICT implementation depends on policies and relevant ICT infrastructure. Therefore, stakeholders need to intervene and address the challenge of effective ICT implementation. The study findings provide valuable baseline information to stimulate investment in ICT policies and infrastructure to streamline university education by enhancing accessibility, quality, and efficiency through ICT implementation.

One of the major determinants of quality education in the Bachelor of Education program is the Teaching Practice component. Globally teaching practice is a mandatory undertaking, at both universities and tertiary teacher training colleges. Various universities adopt different modes of teaching practice especially with regards to its supervision. The exercise of teaching practice supervision is often faced by a number of challenges, for example, inadequate staffing which means that teacher trainees may not be adequately supervised. As such, this study aimed at establishing the implications of academic staff participation in teaching practice on the quality of B.Ed program. Hence, this study sought to answer the research question: how does academic staff participation in teaching practice influence the quality of Bachelor of Education program in public universities in Kenya? The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The scope of the study was the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. The target population of the study comprised 12,342 respondents, where 30 percent of them (433) were sampled. Moi University was used for piloting, after which instruments were modified to ensure highest validity and reliability. The research instruments used in the study comprised questionnaires, interview guide and document analysis schedule. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS. The study findings were presented by the use of frequency tables. The study established that, other than the normal teaching load, academic staff were also tasked with the duty of supervising students while in teaching practice. The study established that on average each lecturer was to supervise at least 20-25 supervision over a two weeks period. In fact, some supervisors devised their own mechanisms of handling a large number of students in teaching practice, for instance, some of them would assemble students in a common hall, mostly away from their stations of practice. Such mechanisms can only be inappropriate as far as quality of assessment is concerned. The challenges surrounding participation of Bachelor of Education academic staff in teaching practice, such as a large number of students, remoteness of some stations as well as inadequate facilitation of academic staff makes it difficult for them to ensure quality experience is gained by students in teaching practice, and as such, this study concludes that teaching practice has not modeled B.Ed. students as expected by CUE. The study recommends Commission for University Education to come up with standard guidelines, which defines the kind of teaching practice Bachelor of Education students should be subjected into, the qualification of academic staff expected to conduct the preparation and assessment as well as the nature of the schools where students can undertake the teaching practice. In so doing, they will compel all the universities offering the degree to ensure quality standards are adhered to at all times. The study further recommends the university management to incorporate the model of mentor supervisors and regulate their recruitment, incentives and reporting in order to reduce the burden of B.Ed Academic Staff participation in teaching practice.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ perception on the effectiveness of head teachers’ supervisory role on teaching and learning of adaptive skills by learners with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), Kenya. The study used Effective School Theory advanced by Lezotte. A descriptive survey design involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. The target population was 227 respondents (207 learners, 5 head teachers and 15 teachers). The sample size was 124 respondents (104 learners, 15 teachers and 5 Head teachers). Purposive sampling was used to select special schools and units. Stratified sampling technique was used to divide population into strata and then through simple random sampling, the exact respondents were identified, i.e., head teachers, teachers and learners in special programmes. Data was collected by use of interview guide for head teachers, observational check list for learners and questionnaire for teachers. Piloting was conducted in Kathelwa Special Unit in Igembe Central Sub-county. Test-retest method was done and a coefficient level of 0.7 was obtained. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS Version 23.0 while qualitative data was analysed thematically. Data was presented using tables and figures for quantitative data while qualitative data was presented using reported verbatims and narratives. The key finding of this study was that majority of head teachers did not use appropriate instructional supervision skills due to lack of essential professional qualifications and knowledge of adaptive skills for learners with intellectual disabilities. The finding also established that teachers perceived majority of head teachers as ineffective in instructional supervision as they did not orientate or guide them in teaching strategies or even skills to teach their learners. The study also found that lack of adequate training and knowledge in adaptive skills, limited provision of teaching and learning resources hindered effective instructional supervision. The study recommended that there should be a policy that head teachers for special institutions be trained in the area of that disability so as to benefit both teachers and learners. The study also recommended that the government, through the ministry of education to provide and allocate adequate funds for both refresher courses and seminars for teachers and also for acquiring teaching and learning resources. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0876/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

The realisation of gender equity through education and training has captured global and national attention. Despite the multiple strategies for achieving gender equity in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), studies have revealed that funding challenges continue to hamper its realisation in TVET institutes. Thus, this study explored funding avenues in TVET that promote gender equity of students in TVET institutes in Uganda. A descriptive survey design with quantitative and qualitative approaches was used to collect, analyse and present study findings. 260 informants including institutional leaders, instructors, students, district leaders, ministry officials, and civil society gender advocates participated in this study. Purposive, convenient, and stratified random sampling techniques were used in selecting the study informants. Questionnaire and interview guides were used to collect the desired data. The quantitative data was cleaned, coded, and entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21 for analysis. Percentage, mean, and standard deviations were used to present the quantitative data. Thematic method and verbatim reporting were used to analyse and present qualitative data respectively. The results revealed that: privatisation of TVET access, increasing TVET budgets, timely and adequate government grants, timely and adequate staff remunerations, bursaries and scholarships, public-private partnerships, affirmative strategies, and boosting parents' income, promote gender equity of students. The study recommended that supportive loan schemes for TVET students be instated, capital grants per student need to be increased, with a slightly higher amount for females to meet their sanitary needs, capital grants to TVET institutes should be dispatched before the start of new terms/semesters, incorporation of the gender lens in the allocation of bursaries and scholarships, encouraging policy formulation and memoranda of understanding between institutes and industries, building linkages with other institutions and seeking donor funding from organisations.

Instructional Supervision Practices and Students' Performance: Instructional supervisory practices are procedures employed by principals to guide teachers on effective teaching and learning process. These practices include peer teaching among teachers, classroom observation by principals, checking teachers' professional documents and mentoring among teachers. In a study on instructional supervisory practices and teachers' role effectiveness in Calabar south local government area of cross river state, Nigeria, Anike, Eyiene and Egbai (2015) who used ex post facto design and sampled principals and teachers established that, there is a positive significant correlation between instructional supervisory practices and teachers' role effectiveness. In that regard, there was a need for this study to explore the role of instructional supervisory practices on learners' classroom achievements in Kenyan context thus revealing the pattern of supervisory practices in the study locale.Several studies in Kenya have demonstrated limited implementation of principals' supervisory practices like