Digital Education Index for Developing Countries Framework: Evaluation of the Deployment of Digital Education in Kenya

Abstract

The Digital Education Index for Developing Countries (DEIFDC) is a compound index considering nine different variables grouped in three main levers that have been researched relevant to assess the overall state of readiness of Digital Education deployment in a developing country. In the case of Kenya, despite major efforts on introducing Digital Education in public schools since the launch of the DigiSchool program in 2016, the application of the DEIFDC, with a value of 0.576, demonstrates insufficient deployment in all main levers largely due to poor broadband infrastructure, lack of trained teachers and poor literacy and numeracy performance of Kenyan students at early stages of education. Kenya has become an ICT hub for all the African region, with inspiring results in the usage of digitalised services. The experience acquired has also favoured the Education sector that has launched mobile applications and education platforms, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic; however significant social, geographic, and cultural differences arise in the study and bring down the overall performance of Digital Education deployment.