Title: Challenges of mandatory ICT use among university lecturers and students during COVID-19 in Liberia

Authors: Gabriel M. Kennedy

Addresses: Department of Secondary Education, College of Education, University of Liberia, Montserrado County, Monrovia, Liberia

Abstract: This research aimed to identify the challenges of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use among university lecturers and students in Liberia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method selected was mixed research. Both open- and close-ended questions were employed and analysed. The selective sampling method was used to sample 100 participants for the study. For survey data collection, 100 participants, consisting of lecturers and students, engaged in this research, targeting a diverse range of universities in Liberia. Eight lecturers from these universities were interviewed. The study found that weak internet connectivity, lack of proper ICT infrastructure, lack of training and development in ICT use, absence of technical support, lack of support from senior peers and financial constraints are the major challenges of ICT use for both teachers and students. Recommended approaches to mitigate these challenges are identified, i.e., key measures that must be considered to reduce barriers and improve ICT use include universities' improvement of and investment in ICT; advanced tools for e-examination and evaluation, training and development initiatives; and improvement of educational policies.

Keywords: challenges; COVID-19; digital literacy; ICT; online learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMARTTL.2024.142174

International Journal of Smart Technology and Learning, 2024 Vol.4 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Received: 03 Nov 2023
Accepted: 28 Dec 2023
Published online: 11 Oct 2024 *

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