Exploring Attitude and Challenges of ICT in Education Among Student-Teachers

The study focused on the attitudes of student teachers in primary schoolstoward ICT in the hilly districts of Manipur, considering crucial issuessuch as gender disparities and resource constraints. We selected 250student-teachers from five District Institutes of Education and Training(DIET) centres using a descriptive survey method. We used a standardstructured questionnaire with a three-point Likert scale, which gaugedperceptions in the domains of ICT for instruction, student-canteredlearning, communication, and information skills. The analysis revealed alow degree of inhomogeneity in the respondents' beliefs about the benefitsof ICT for teaching and learning, with notable differences between malesand females. Beliefs about ICT, although perceived as beneficial byfemale as well as male student-teachers, differed by gender; the attitudesrevealed by male student-teachers were more positive. The study revealedthat inadequate training and limited technical assistance significantlycontributed to negative attitudes, particularly among female respondents.The report suggests enhancing the ICT infrastructure, advocating forinclusive and gender-sensitive training initiatives, and cultivating apositive perception of the advantages of ICT in educational settings. It isessential to ensure fair access to ICT and foster a positive mindset amongstudent-teachers. This study provides policymakers with strategies toeffectively integrate ICT into teacher education, a crucial aspect inresource-poor and geographically isolated regions such as Manipur's hilldistricts. The aim is to improve educational outcomes and expandopportunities for all aspiring teacher educators.