The main objective of the doctoral research was to improve the performance in Physics and Mathematics, at Advanced Level Examinations, of two rural girls’ secondary schools in Arua (Muni and Ediofe) through application of e-learning. Both schools have no functional science laboratories and libraries. They also have no qualified and committed teachers who can competently teach at that level of education. The research included participatory action research methodology and the use of interactive multimedia CD-ROMs for Physics and Mathematics as the main course delivery platform. During the study, twenty nine female students from the two schools effectively used the hybrid e-learning tools and applications for six months in 2007 | SCHOOLS IN UGANDA HYBRID E-LEARNING FOR RURAL SECONDARY ABSTRACT This licentiate thesis is concerned with the deve- despread standardization. Used computers with lopment of appropriate tools and implementation inferior capabilities that are being sold to rural HYBRID E-LEARNING FOR RURAL of hybrid e-learning to support science and mathe- schools cheaply are not useful for educational pur- matics education of female students in typical rural poses. The cost of acquisition is low but the total SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UGANDA advanced-level secondary schools. In Uganda few cost of ownership is extremely high. The costs of rural female students participate in technology Internet installation, bandwidth, commercial plat- and engineering education in tertiary institutions forms and web-hosting make introduction of pure because they perform poorly in science and mat- e-learning in Ugandan schools not viable, even in hematics subjects at advanced secondary school educationally elite secondary schools. Hybrid e- level of education. learning is the only realistic option in the complex financial situation of Ugandan secondary schools. Rural secondary schools in Uganda are usually Experience has shown that where there is Internet very poor and financially constrained schools. Ge- presence for use in education, open source web- nerally, such schools have non-functional science hosting providers and open source platforms must Peter Okidi Lating laboratories and libraries. They also have difficulty be used. They are cheap and affordable even by in attracting and retaining qualified science and poor rural secondary schools. Hybrid e-learning mathematics teachers, especially at advanced level tools were developed to support such Ugandan of secondary education. The financial situations schools using participatory methodology. of the schools make capital investments in science infrastructures like laboratories and libraries im- The thesis is organized in three parts. Part I con- possible. .
