The Reality of eLearning in Kenyan Universities

Abstract

Modern Day communication has advanced in the 21^st century. This, coupled with the reality that came with the Covid-19 pandemic around the world demanded adjustments in nearly all spheres of life, particularly the education sector. Many countries adopted a teaching /learning system in which content is delivered on-line. After the pandemic, quite a number of higher learning institutions adopted a hybrid system in which a given percentage of the teaching/learning is done online and the other percentage is physical. However, there needs to be a re-examination of blended learning; bearing in mind the reality of the developing world. Online learning can only be effective if there is availability of the right equipment for communication and also internet connectivity. This paper highlights the reality in different universities in Kenya and the feeling of the learners who are the direct beneficiaries of eLearning. Learners from five universities were interviewed. The study was guided by Putnam (2000)’s Time Displacement Theory. The paper concludes that while eLearning is inescapable in the modern world, the issue of availability of smart digital devices needs to be considered if there is to be equitable access to education for all. The availability of internet alone is not enough.