CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
BACKGROUND TO
THE STUDY
Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) has taken over the global economy. Most
things if not all require ICT to be performed. The education sector is not left
out of this as Information and Communication Technology(ICT) has improved the
method of teaching and learning; it has made teaching and learning less difficult.
Teaching and learning with the aid of ICT has grown beyond the four walls of a
classroom to learning from the comfort of one’s apartment. This
advancement in technology has equally
bridged the digital divide between information rich and poor society. According
to Tinio (2002) ICT has the potentials of increasing relevance and quality of
education in developing countries and the field of education has been affected
by ICT, which have indisputably affected teaching, learning, and research. Many
scholars have proven through their works the much benefits of ICT to the
quality of education (Yusuf, 2005).
Computer literacy is the
ability to use computers to perform a variety of tasks and is becoming
fundamental to the learning process (Osuji, 2010).
Computer literacy is being able
to handle a wide range of varying computer applications for various purposes.
Albirini (2004) considers computer literacy as educators’ belief about their
computer knowledge and skills.
Due to the fact that state
governments in Nigeria needed to fully implement the National Policy on
Computer Education in Nigeria’s policy, they introduced computer literacy
education across secondary schools in Nigeria in 1997 (Bada, Ajibade & Ojedokun, 2009, and Adomi
& Kpangban, 2010). The reasons for this are: to introduce the use of
computer in teaching, to make the present generation appreciate the use of
computer, to make both students and teachers appreciate the benefits of
computer to the education sector, and to expose both students and teachers to
an unlimited body of knowledge.
Similarly, in the Federal
government of Nigeria’s bid to fully implement the use of computer across
schools, the National Policy on Information Technology was introduced in 2001
in order to relate the message of computer literacy to secondary schools in the
rural areas.
With such policies in place,
steps have been taken to improve the use of ICT in both teaching and learning
from the primary to the tertiary education.
However, the situation in
primary and secondary schools across the country has not really improved; as we
still witness cases of most schools without computer laboratories and those who
try to have are without competent teachers to teach amidst other factors. Computer
education is really lacking across junior secondary schools, though some
private schools are trying to provide few computers for learning.
A study that was carried out by
Jegede and Owolabi (2003) when comparing the Nigeria National Computer Policy
of 1987 with what is currently obtainable across secondary schools in Nigeria
revealed that computer education is more practiced in Federal unity schools and
a few private schools. These schools are located in the urban areas which means
that more schools in the urban areas practice computer education compared to
schools in the rural areas. A study carried out by Osunwusi and Abifarin (2013)
to determine the level of computer literacy revealed that private secondary
schools have access to and use computers in teaching and learning compared to
public schools. Bearing the current state of computer literacy in the urban
areas, the need to study the level of computer literacy among junior secondary
school in rural areas generate much questions like: Is computer literacy taught
in rural areas? Is computer science taught in junior secondary schools? Are
schools in the rural areas implementing the National Policy on Education in
Nigeria policy? These questions call for much concern as this study is meant to
examine the level of computer literacy among the junior secondary school
students in Enugu North Local government area in Enugu state. Most especially
now the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board introduced the use of Computer
Based Test (CBT) for its examination. Of which one of the criteria for the exam
is that one must be a computer literate; and being a computer literate requires
a good foundation like computer being taught right from the primary school. A
student who is taught computer in primary and secondary school will not have
problem in JAMB’s examination; that is why it is pertinent for this study to
examine the level of computer literacy among the junior secondary school
students and make recommendations where necessary to improve computer literacy across
junior secondary schools in Enugu state.
1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Computer
literacy has been one of the problems of the education sector in Nigeria,
especially in Enugu state considering the current trend of technology.
The level of computer literacy in
junior secondary schools across the country is really alarming as most schools
do not teach computer at all. Schools who try to teach are more into theory
than practical; there are no computers to match theory with practice; schools
who have computers have it in limited number.
Similarly, another problem tied to the
low level of computer literacy among the junior secondary school is the absence
of competent teachers. Some teachers who teach computer science especially in
the rural areas are unskilled. They are just good on the basics of computer,
and knowledge of this alone cannot give them the avenue to fully educate the
students on computer literacy.
These are some of the problems this
study will give recommendations on.
1.3.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim of this study is to examine
the level of computer literacy among the junior secondary school students in
Enugu North Local government area in Enugu state.
Specifically, the study intends to:
I. To
know if there are competent teachers of computer science in Enugu North local
government area.
ii.
To assess the factors that affect computer literacy among junior secondary
schools in Enugu North Local government area in Enugu state.
iii. To identify ways of improving computer
literacy among junior secondary schools in Enugu North local government area.
v.
To examine the extent of computer literacy among junior secondary schools in
Enugu North local government area.
vi.
To recommend ways of improving computer literacy in Enugu state.
1.4.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were
asked to guide the study, whereas answer to the following questions will be
sought as a basis for testing the hypotheses:
i.
Are there competent teachers of
computer science in Enugu North local government area?
ii.
What are the factors that affect computer
literacy among junior secondary schools in Enugu North Local government area in
Enugu state?
iii.
What are the ways of improving
computer literacy among junior secondary schools in Enugu North local government
area?
iv.
What is the extent of computer
literacy among junior secondary schools in Enugu North local government area?
v.
What are the ways of improving
computer literacy in Enugu state?
1.5.
STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES
The hypotheses proposed in this study
are stated in the null as follows:
HYPOTHESIS
ONE
Ho: There is no significant relationship
between computer literacy and students’ academic performance.
HYPOTHESIS
TWO
Ho: Junior secondary schools in Enugu
North local government area are not well equipped with computer facilities.
1.6.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research study aims to contribute
both theoretically to the literature, and practically to the education sector
of Nigeria, it shall seek to provide ordinary insight on area concerned with computer
literacy, and explore the possibility of improving the level of computer
literacy among the junior secondary school student in Enugu North local
government area and Nigeria as a whole. It also aims to contribute to the
extant literature on the level of computer literacy among the junior secondary
school students in Enugu north local government area in Enugu state. In
addition, this research study offers recommendations that will improve the
level of computer literacy in Nigeria.
The study has the potential of
encouraging the government and management of secondary schools to see the need
for providing schools with computer facilities in order to improve the level of
computer literacy in the country. It
will encourage even non-governmental organizations to contribute towards
providing secondary schools with computers, computer text books and even
internet services.
Finally, this study is also expected
to serve as an input to the body of knowledge. It would also be useful to
students of tertiary institutions writing their final year projects, as well as
lecturers.
1.7.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study covers the level
of computer literacy in Nigeria.
However, due to logistics, this study has been limited to the study of
the level of computer literacy among the junior secondary students in Enugu
North local government, Enugu state.
1.8.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The following limitations of the study are as
follows:
1.
Time:
- This
is the first limitation that affected the research study badly because carrying
out the study requires time and one can’t afford to miss lecture and embark on
a journey to the cost study.
2.
Finance:
- It is another limitation because the study requires enough funds to carry out
the research and without the funds the study will not be fruition.
1.9. DEFINITION OF TERMS
1.
LEVEL:
A position on a scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.
2.
COMPUTER
LITERACY: Is the ability to use computers
and related technology efficiently, with a range of skills covering levels from
elementary use to programming and advanced problem solving.
3.
JUNIOR
SECONDARY SCHOOL: A school intermediate between
an elementary school and a high school, generally for children in the seventh,
eighth, and ninth grades.
4.
STUDENT:
A person
formally engaged
in learning, especially one enrolled in a school or college; pupil.
5.
JAMB
(JOINT ADMISSION AND MATRICULATION BOARD): Is a Nigerian entrance
examination board for tertiary-level institutions. The board conducts entrance examinations for prospective undergraduates into Nigerian universities.
The board is also charged with the responsibility to administer similar
examinations for applicants to Nigerian public and private monotechnics, polytechnics, and colleges of educations.
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