ICT supported study circle education in Kenya

In this project we evaluated the enabled capabilities for individuals that participated in a, SPIDER funded, study circle education on the south coast of Kenya. In the project we evaluated and compared expected outcomes (project goals) with enabled outcomes (what is implemented) and realized outcomes (how the users experience it) using the Capability Approach (CA) as the theoretical perspective. CA focuses on individuals’ choices and development of opportunities for individuals. Enabling capabilities is the focus of education, and is the precondition for making it possible for people to act upon opportunities offered, i.e. for individuals to make choices so that they can live a life that they value.

The result of the evaluation showed that there were several capabilities that had been enabled for the participants ranging from health capabilities to income generating activities such as fish farms and soap making. However, the evaluation also showed that there were several factors that hindered the participants from taking full advantage of the opportunities that the education could generate. Factors such as personal economy, gender inequality, lack of electricity and access to computers etc., meant that many participants had a difficult time choosing to act on the opportunities provided.