RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIGITAL COMPETENCE AND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AMONG ECDE TEACHERS IN UPPER EASTERN, KENYA

ECDE teachers’ digital competence is crucial in the integration of learning of children in the ECDE Units which requires availability and utilization of digital resources in the instructional process. The study sought to analyze the relationship between ECDE teachers' digital competence and language instruction among ECDE teachers in upper Eastern Counties in Kenya. Both descriptive survey and correlation research designs with mixed methods approach that utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the study. A sample of 365 comprising of 181 language teachers, 181 head teachers and 3 ECDE County Directors. was obtained from a population of 4,021 Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules from 339 respondents giving the study a response rate of 93.15%. Qualitative data obtained was analyzed thematically while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0 computer software. Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the existing relationship between study variables while hypothesis was tested using logistic regression at 95% level of significance. The results showed that teachers’ digital competence is positively and significantly related with language instruction. It is therefore recommended that there is need to provide targeted training and professional development programs for ECDE teachers to enhance their proficiency in utilizing digital resources for instruction.