IMPEDIMENTS TO THE ACQUISITION OF COMPUTER EDUCATION BY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (CASE STUDY OF ENUGU NORTH LGA)
ABSTRACT
The study employed a survey designed. A sample of 800 students which were randomly selected served us the study sample. Data were collected using the questionnaire. Mean and standard derivation were used to analyze the data. It was found out that lack of interest and inadequate personnel and facilities were serious impediments to acquisition of computer education. Finally, recommendations were made that enough trained personnel should be recruited and posted to schools to teach computer studies.
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study:
A well developed scientific and technological base are conditional to any national human and material development. Nigeria has been classified as a developing nation and has continued to make a break through by emphasizing much on science and technology thereby making inclusive of Computer Education in the curriculum of the junior and senior secondary schools.
During the ministerial council meeting of the national council on Education in 1987, the Federal Government of Nigeria deiced to introduce Computer Education into the nation’s secondary school system. This was followed by the inauguration of the National committees on Computer Education the same year. The functions of the committee among others included, planning for dynamic policy on Computer Education and literacy in Nigeria as well as devising clear strategies and terminologies to be used by the federal and state governments in the introducing computer Education.
The general objective of the policy are:
1. To bring about a computer literate society in Nigeria.
2. To enable the present school children to appreciate and use the Computer Education in various aspect of life and in future employment. The modalities for achieving stated objectives include;
1). Training teachers and associated personal
2). Provision of hardware facilities
3). Curriculum development.
4). Software developments and evaluation.
5). Maintenance of hardware.
The above enumerated strategies can promote or impede the acquisition of Computer Education knowledge. Functionalities of the strategies would promote acquisition while deficiency in implementation would constitute an impediment to the acquisition of Computer Education knowledge. According to Francisca (2003) the polices are poorly implemented due to poor training and orientation of key implements (teachers). Through constant practice, workshop and seminars, the teachers will be equipped in relevant knowledge needed in geography which are appropriate for effective teaching and learning of Computer Education. Computer requires practices and only the teachers that knows the practices can teach it very well.
Impediments with regard to the stated strategies the non availability of Hardware facilities in acquisition of Computer Education. Okon (1992) reported on the declining standard of teaching which is done without exposing the students to any form of practical experiences. The acquisition of Computer Education with the hardware facilities is just like going to school without pen and Books. In the 1990 National Conference on Curriculum development Computer Education was not inclusive in the issues discussed which now made the acquisition of Computer Education very difficult in the secondary school because it was not included early in the curriculum.
Proper teaching and learning with regard to Computer Education in the state secondary schools have been known to have suffered some set backs. There set backs have been generated by certain conditions such as:
1. Inadequate Provision of Facilities
2. Lack of Trained Personnel
3. Financial Constraint
