Private and public schools dichotomies in the adoption and use of information and communication technology

Abstract

This study investigated the adoption and use of ICT in private and public secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria. It particularly examined the availability of ICT infrastructures, ICT adoption factors and the uses to which ICTs are put in the schools. The study also identified the effects and challenges faced by private and public schools in their use of ICT. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. A purposive sampling technique was adopted for selecting 40 schools (20 public and 20 private) from seven local governments in the 3 senatorial districts in Kwara State. Questionnaire was the main data collection instrument used. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage distributions were the analytical tools adopted.

Findings revealed that private secondary schools have and use ICT more than their public school counterparts in their operations but computers was the only ICT facility common in the public schools. Also, the use of Computer Aided Instruction software was not widespread in the public schools. Findings equally revealed that private secondary schools increase their ICT use by buying more ICT equipment and permitting free access to them unlike their public school counterparts that rely solely on the government for the supply of ICT equipment. Constraints such as erratic power supply, high cost of ICT facilities, improper training of ICT personnel among others were identified as the factors militating against the adoption and ICT use in the schools. Based on these findings recommendations were made.


The Information Technologist Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 52-73