Barriers to electronic access and delivery of educational information in resource constrained public schools: a case of Greater Tubatse Municipality

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are capable of expanding access to quality education, educational resources and provide teachers with new skills. Nevertheless, a majority of rural public schools have limited ICTs, mainly due to geographical landscape, lack of service delivery and poverty. As a result, they currently seem not to be adequately benefiting from current advancements in ICTs. The main objective of the research presented in this paper was to understand the challenges faced by resource constrained schools under the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa regarding lack of access to electronic educational information. An exploratory case study approach was adopted to identify and understand the challenges faced by rural schools, including educational services and content considered by schools as relevant and useful. The results indicate that resource-constrained schools in the GTM are facing challenges of lack of access to electronic educational information and services, as the result teaching and learning becomes difficult.