Incorporating ICTs in Schools for Effective Education: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is critical for attaining the second millennium development goal, geared towards providing education for all at the basic educational level. Although ICT in education has frequently been linked to higher efficiency and better educational outcome, the vision of providing easy access to education is yet to be achieved. This situation is true for Nigeria with a population of over 148 million. Regrettably, many developing counties, in Africa, are still low in ICT application and use. However, in an information age like ours, the application of ICT in education is imperative for providing students with opportunities for effective learning. For this reason, examining the challenges involved in application of ICT in education is significant for educators in order to surmount these obstacles and consequently successfully incorporate ICT into the educational system. Hence, this chapter presents the relevant literature on ICTs and the perceived barriers to ICT integration in basic education. It presents the implications of incorporating ICT in the basic educational system of Lagos State, one of the most populous cities in Nigeria. The challenges confronting the integration of ICT in education are equally identified with a view to ensuring a more efficient application of ICT in attaining education for all.