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THE LEVEL OF COMPUTER LITERACY AMONG THE JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

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 Kosofe Local government area in Lagos 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 Lagos State.

1.2. Statement of Problem

Computer literacy has been one of the problems of the education sector in Nigeria, especially in Lagos 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 Kosofe Local government area in Lagos State.

Specifically, the study intends to:

     i.         To know if there are competent teachers of computer science in Kosofe local government area.

   ii.         To assess the factors that affectcomputer literacy among junior secondary schools in Kosofe Local government area in Lagos State.

 iii.         To identify ways of improving computer literacy among junior secondary schools in Kosofe local government area.

 iv.         To examine the extent of computer literacy among junior secondary schools in Kosofe local government area.

   v.         To recommend ways of improving computer literacy in Lagos State.

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