Literature review of e-learning technology adoption in South African rural higher tertiary institutions for teaching and learning

Abstract

This systematic literature review explores the adoption of e-learning in rural tertiary institutions in South Africa. Despite numerous studies on e-learning implementation in urban tertiary institutions, few have holistically considered bridging the digital divide gap by examining factors that hinder technology adoption in rural tertiary institutions. This review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and sourced information from the ACM Digital Library, Scopus, IEEE, and Springer to retrieve and analyse scholarly publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, in South Africa between 2018 and 2024. The search results identified 65 relevant articles from ACM, 75 from Scopus, 70 from IEEE, and 90 from Springer. The study's research questions helped identify topics to explore regarding the adoption of e-learning technology in rural tertiary institutions in South Africa. Findings highlight the challenges hindering the adoption of e-learning in South Africa, including poor internet connections, resistance to change, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient funding, and limited training skills. We recommend that institutional management take timely and strategic actions to ensure the successful implementation of e-learning. Furthermore, the frequent training of staff and students in the use of e-learning systems encourages adoption and effective use.