The Challenges of Open and Distance Learning The Challenges of Open and Distance Learning in Kenya: The Case of Public Universities

Abstract

Theglobalization globalizationooffdistancedistancelearninglearningprovides providesmany many opportunities opportunitiesandandnew newsources sourcesooffteaching teachingand and learning learningttoobothbothstudents studentsandandeducatorseducatorsiinninstitutions institutions ooffhigher higherlearning learning..Open Openandanddistancedistanceprograms programs started startediinn20002000iinnmostmostKenyanKenyanuniversities universities..This This combined combinedwithwithinternetinternetservices, services,ICT ICTandandmobile mobile telephony, telephony,boosted boostedchances chancesfor forteaching teachingnew newcourses courses.. telephony, telephony,boosted boostedchances chancesfor forteaching teachingnew newcourses courses.. However, However,thetheuniversitiesuniversitiesiinnKenya Kenyaareareyetyetttoo embrace embracethisthisnew newtechnology technologyandandboostboostfunding fundingttoo open openandanddistancedistancelearning learning..TheThepotentialpotentialooffODL ODLiiss yet yetttoobbeefullyfullyexploitedexploitedttoosolvesolvevariousvariousacademic academic problems problemsandandpromotepromoteadmissions admissionsooffmoremorestudents studentsiinn the theuniversities universities..IInnEastEastAfrica, Africa,onlyonlyRwanda Rwandaseems seems ttoohave haveroserosettoothetheoccasion occasion IndeedaattMoiMoiUniversity Universitywhere whereweweteach,teach,there thereiiss adequate adequatepreparation, preparation,weweneedneedttoocomecomeuuppwith with profound profoundchangeschangesiinntermstermsooffinfrastructure, infrastructure,policy policy and andorganizational organizationalstructure structure..ThereThereiissneed needforforuussttoo become becomeaadualdualmodemodeuniversity universitysimilarsimilarttooUniversity University ooffSouth SouthAfricaAfrica(UNISA) (UNISA)..NoNodoubt, doubt,openopenlearning learning will willboost boostenrolment enrolmentlevels, levels,provide providethe themuch muchneeded needed will willboost boostenrolment enrolmentlevels, levels,provide providethe themuch muchneeded needed interconnectivity interconnectivityamongamonguniversities universitiesamongamongother other things things..ThisThispaperpaperexamines examinesthethechallenges challengesand and opportunities opportunitiesiinntermstermsooffcosts,costs,ignorance, ignorance,poverty, poverty, conservativism conservativismiinnourouruniversities universitiesandandlacklackooffclear clear government governmentpolicypolicyaattuniversity, university,tertiary,tertiary,secondary secondary and andeven evenprimary primaryschool school..