Assessment of the use of internet and professional development of mathematics teachers in Dar es salaam city and iramba district secondary schools (Tanzania)

The purpose of this study was to assess the use of Internet and professional development of mathematics teachers in Dar es Salaam city and Iramba district (Tanzania). Due to inadequate resources, mathematics teachers lack opportunities to upgrade their teaching practices of which in turn affect their teaching and finally affects students’ learning outcome. The use of ICT specifically the Internet is assumed to be cost effective and can provide updated and advanced learning resources in line with global technological advancement of using online resources posted on open source programs. This study involved 8 secondary schools from Dar-es-Salaam and Singida regions with 33 respondents. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used and the instruments used included in-depth interviews, observations, questionnaires and documentary review. It was revealed that most teachers lacked adequate training before and after entry to teaching profession. Inadequacy of resources like funds, time and human resources was one of the factors which affected the face-to-face teachers’ professional development. However, it was found that there were few teachers who were able to access the Internet for academic purposes and confessed to find worthily information and teaching materials, so professional development could be improved if the government will be able to invest in Internet use. It was then recommended that; the Internet should be used effectively to become one of the tools to enhance teaching and learning. Therefore, the acquisition of academic information, online collaboration and teachers’ networking resource centers should be considered.