ICT policy implementation in the education system of Riau province, Indonesia

Abstract

Implementation of ICT policy in education can bring positive change towards the improvement of education quality as it is considered a change agent for education, economic, and social culture. However, it is not easy to implement it as a national policy, since there are many obstacles encountered by education policymakers such as national financial problem, lack of facilities, and shortage of individual’s skill in ICT use. This study investigated ICT policy implementation in the education system, and focused on two forms of educational changes, namely; restructuring and reculturing in three areas, namely Tanjungpinang, Batam, and Tanjung Balai in Riau Archipelago province, Indonesia. The research was a comprehensive study which investigated topdown policy implementers involving three levels; Local Education Authority (LEAs), school organization, and teachers in the Riau Archipelago province. Literature related to the policy implementation in ICT was also reviewed. Subsequently, qualitative data were collected through interviews, observation, and documents analysis. Findings were analyzed thematically. From the analysis, three main themes were discovered. Firstly, in terms of support on restructuring change of LEAs and school organization, it was found that the performance of ICT management programs, and partnership support have not achieved the local ICT policy standard and objective. Secondly, in terms of reculturing change support of policy actors’ disposition on national ICT policy implementation, the findings revealed that the LEAs, school organization and teachers indicated positive attitude, although teachers’ utilization skill of ICT was standard use. Thirdly, in terms of barrier, the gap between the support of local ICT policy standard and the support from education local policy actors towards the implementation of ICT in education is still wide. Based on the findings, several recommendations for further studies in the future and its implication on ICT policy strategies, ICT policy knowledge awareness, skill, and a comprehensive theoretical and framework of ICT policy implementation were suggested to support the national ICT policy implementation in the education system of schools in the Riau Archipelago province, Indonesia.