Abstract
The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) globally has permeated both governmental and non-governmental sectors. Suffice to say that ICTs have proven to be undeniably paramount in quest of strengthening performance in various socio-economic development sectors as well as in facilitating sustainable human development. Notably, the education sector has experienced a significant impact of the use of ICT. The use of ICT in teaching and learning has become quite indispensable in the 21st century. With the evolving globalised context since the 1990s, the use of ICT as a pedagogical tool has increased remarkably in several schools globally, South Africa included. The purpose of this research was to explore the learners’ and teachers’ experiences in using ICT for teaching and learning and its subsequent contribution in promoting human development. The study engaged the work of various scholars, but particularly Amartya Sens’s Capability Approach which promotes human development at an individual level, ensuring that these individuals are empowered to make significant contribution to their own as well as their nation’s socio-economic growth. The study followed a qualitative research method where a review of literature, observations and interviews were conducted with sampled learners and teachers for data gathering purposes. Findings indicated that learners have fully embraced ICT and are keen to employ it in their learning and social life. However, there are mixed experiences of ICT use from the teachers’ perspectives as there was some reluctance in adopting the integration. The study also identified a lack of skill as a possible contributing factor to the negative attitude from the teachers. The findings further indicated that ICT has played a huge role in the access and dissemination of information although it has been seriously hindered by lack of appropriate resources...
M.A. (Development Studies)