The Use of Information and Communication Technology in Technical and Vocational Education: The Case of Universal Basic Education (UBE) Schools

Abstract

The problem of this study is the implementation of ICT skills acquisition and its use in technical education for the realization of vision 2020. The purpose of this study therefore is to determine how the implementation of ICTS programmes has been in Primary and Basic Secondary schools? And to relate the interest of students/teachers in ICTs programmes in Primary/Secondary schools. The design of this study is descriptive survey. A simple random sample was used to select 180 Primary school pupils from 11260 population, 200 Junior Secondary students out of 5077and 150 teachers out of 768 from both the primary and secondary section of the UBE. The instrument for data collection was a valid questionnaire containing 25 items and was established at 0.76 reliability. The findings indicated that ICT education at the basic level of our education system is very low. There is also a general quest for computer education knowledge among pupils/students and teachers, and that, those who had little knowledge acquired such through private effort. Schools in the local government area are yet to be equips with computer facilities. There is significant difference between the attitudes, interest and quest for ICT education among pupils/students and teachers. Teachers also saw the need for compulsory computer education at both levels and considered it very important, said it is not yet important to use ICT knowledge for teacher’s employment, but consider it above average important for teachers in-training. It was recommended that attention be shifted to the basic level of education, through strengthening ICT programmes by monitoring implementation at the local government level especially the UBE schools.