EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AND STUDENTS` PERFORMANCE IN ENGLISH IN PUBLIC DAY SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RWANDAA CASE OF RUTSIRO DISTRICT

Through the Ministry of Education, the Rwandan government seeks to improve the quality of education by emphasizing science, technology, and innovation. This study looks into how technology integration affects English language proficiency among students in public day secondary schools, particularly in the Rutsiro District. The Research aimed at evaluating the effects of technology integration on students English performance in public day secondary schools across Rwanda, with a focus on Rutsiro District. Georges Siemens 2005 idea of connectivism serves as the foundation for the theoretical framework of this investigation. Prior studies have demonstrated a favourable relationship between students proficiency in English and the integration of technology. The researcher used the Yamane method to pick 122 respondents as a sample from the population of 542 informants who were the focus of this study. Data were collected for the study through the use of questionnaires, guided interviews, and educational material analysis. Both descriptive and correlational design were applied. The analysis of quantitative data was conducted with SPSS software, version 25. In this case, regression, correlation and descriptive analysis were established. Qualitative findings were analyzed using thematic analysis and lastly the data were presented and discussed thereafter. The findings indicate that 47.8% and 43.4% agreed and strongly agreed respective that computers, smartphones, audio files, sound recorder and projectors have a positive effect on students English communication skills, participation in class, school progress-completion, ICT usage and academic performance. The mean for all variables were approximately 4 with standard deviation of 1 approximately. The beta coefficients for technology tools being integrated, smart phones, computers and audio files were 60.5%, 5.1% and 21.9% corresponding with p value 0.000, 0.581 and 0.002. The study concluded that the integration of technology, including smartphones, computers, and audio files, positively impacts students performance in English at public day secondary schools in Rwanda. Recommendations were provided to stakeholders, including teachers, head teachers, and students, regarding the importance of digital skills in 21st-century education. Additionally, suggestions for areas for future research were presented.