AVAILABILITY/UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER SYSTEM/ACCESSORIES AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Availability/Utilization of Computer System/Accessories and Students Academic Performance in Public and Private Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine availability/utilization of computer system/accessories and students’ academic performance in public/private schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area. Two research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Survey research design was adopted for the study.

The population of the study consisted of all JSS2 students in the study area. Sample size of 120 students was selected from four schools using intact classes. The instrument for data collection was computer science achievement test and checklist. The data collected were analyzed using independent t-test. The result revealed that the student taught with computer system/accessories performed better than those taught without.

It was also revealed that students in private schools performed better than their counterparts in public schools. The findings also revealed that computer system/accessories are not adequately available in both public and private schools. Based on the finding of the study, it was recommended among others that teachers should always utilize computer system/accessories during lesson delivery to enhance students’ academic performance. 

AVAILABILITY/UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER SYSTEM/ACCESSORIES AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The nation overall development is inextricably tied to its educational system, since education is a light that shows mankind the right direction to surge as well as being an engine for the growth and progress of any society. 1it does not only impact knowledge and skills, but it is also responsible for building human capital which breeds, drives, and set technological innovation and economics growth (Osakiwe,2014).

According to Esop (2016), it should be noted that the role of computer as an electronic device that accepts data, process data and produces the results in form of information with minimum level of human intervention cannot be underscored in every area of education. It is imperative for teachers to utilized computer system/accessories during the teaching/learning process in order for the student to achieve high in their academics.

The services rendered through computer utilization are in form of multimedia, word processing, power point presentation, data bases management, retrieval and storage of information, access to internet, e-learning and activities related to education and instruction. Computer has been classified by size into micro computer, minicomputer, main frame computer and super computer.

Uma (2014) asserted that neglecting the use of computer in the teaching and learning process will negatively affect the educational system of any nation. He also said that the use of computer in the school system is the latest and most useful idea in the teaching/learning process.

If a great percentage of the teachers in our school system are computer literate, many of the problems they encountered in computing students’ results and operation of lesson note would be drastically minimized. Thus, it is necessary to say the used of the computers by the teachers can reduce educational problems to the barest minimum.

Because of the unimaginable memory capacity of computer, it can keep adequate records of teaching, it can store information and be able to retrieve it within a twinkle of an eye. Regarding the difficulties in rewriting the same document several times, once such information has been store in a computer, editing could be done faster and more accurately.

AVAILABILITY/UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER SYSTEM/ACCESSORIES AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

It was on this note that Abolade (2015) asserted that in this present day, there is a great challenge to update the process of teaching/learning and to take giant strides toward keeping abreast of technological development toward application of computer in Nigeria educational system.

Computer has the potential as sophisticated educational teaching aid to enhance traditional ways of presenting information to students. This means that computer utilization played a virtual role in the educational system during the process of teaching/learning.

It is against this background that the researcher considered it necessary to examine the “Availability/utilization of computer system/accessories and students’ academic performance in public and private secondary schools in Ukanafun L.G.A. of Akwa Ibom State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Computer played a very vital role in the educational system. This means that the utilization of computer in the educational system could influence the teaching/Learning process. Findings have shown that the academic performance of students in the secondary schools is below the average. Uma (2014) observed the declined in the academic achievement of students and he exclaimed that the present day secondary school students could not do what their counterparts used to do academically.

The causes of the poor academic achievement has been attributed to so many factors such as school variables, students attitudes, home factors, teachers variables, teaching methods, lack of teaching aids utilization such as computer system/accessories. Based on this problems, the researcher was motivated to examine the availability/utilization of computers academic performance in public and private secondary schools in Ukanafun L.G.A.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The general purpose of this study is to examine availability/utilization of computer system/accessories and students academic performance in public and private secondary schools in Ukanafun L.G.A. specifically, the study aimed at:

1. Examining the difference between the academic performance of students taught with the use of computer system/accessories and those taught without.
2. Examining the difference between the academic performance of students in Public and private secondary schools taught with computer system/accessories in Ukanafun L.G.A.
3. Examining the extent of computer system/accessories availability in secondary schools in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study.

1. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of students taught with computer system/accessories and those taught without.
2. There is no significant difference between the academic performance of students in public and private secondary schools taught with computer system/accessories.
3. Computer system/accessories are not adequately available in secondary schools in Ukanafun L.G.A.

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study will be of great benefits to the students’ teachers and educational planners in the following ways:

1. Lessons will appear real to the students when taught with computer system/accessories. As a result, they will have interest in learning.
2. The educational planners will see the need of providing adequate computer system/accessories to schools.
3. The teachers will see the need to utilize computer system/accessories in the teaching/Learning process.

AVAILABILITY/UTILIZATION OF COMPUTER SYSTEM/ACCESSORIES AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

1.6 Delimitation of the Study

This study is delimited to the availability/utilization of computer system/accessories in public and private secondary schools in Ukanafun L.G.A only. The target population for the study are JSS2 students in the study area.

1.7 Limitation of the Study

The following challenges were confronted by the researcher in the course of carry out this study.

1. Financial Constraint: High cost of transportation in visiting all the schools in the study area was a problem to the researcher selected some of the schools.
2. Time Constraint: The period of time given for the completion of this study was not enough due to the fact that the researcher had others academic activities to carry out as at the time of this study.
3. School Location: Most of the schools visited by the researcher were located in the rural areas which caused some problems to the researcher due to bad road network.

1.8 Definition of Terms

The following terms were defined as they are utilized in this study for clarity.

1. Computer System: This is an electronic device that accept data, process the data and produces result in form of information.
2. Computer Accessories: These are the peripheral attached to the computer for effective functioning of the computer. E.g keyboard, Mouse etc.
3. Utilization: This is the act of putting something into use.
4. Availability: This refers to the extent which something is existed for use.
5. Academic Performance: This is the outcome of students’ learning measured through test or examination.

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