CHALLENGES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE UTILIZATION FOR JOB MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

The inefficiency of many colleges of education (COEs) academic staff towards execution of their job responsibilities in the current digitalized society, thereby, causing low achievement of instructional objectives, led the researchers to conduct this study. The present study sought to examine the challenges to academic staff utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for improved job management efficiency in colleges of education (COEs) in Anambra State. Four research questions guided the study. A descriptive survey research design was employed in the study. Population of the study comprised 699 academic staff of two COEs in Anambra State. Sample for the study constituted 350 academic staff of these two COEs in Anambra State selected at 50% using the simple random sampling technique. A 33-item questionnaire developed by the researchers was used for data collection. Validation of the research instrument was done by three expects from the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus. Reliability of questionnaire was established through a pilot-test carried out on a single administration of the instrument to a sample of 25 academic staff of two COEs in Enugu which was not part of the study. Scores obtained after the pilot test were collated and measured using Cronbach Alpha method which gave internal coefficient consistency of 0.88, 0.89, 0,83 and 0.77 for the four clusters respectively, which added up to give an overall coefficient of internal consistency of 0.84, showing that the questionnaire was reliable and trustworthy. Data collated were analyzed using mean statistics rated at 2.50 and standard deviation statistics. Findings of the study revealed among others that challenges such as financial constraints, inexperience in using AI technology, lack of constant involvement in training and retraining AI programmes, time constraints, academic staff workloads and so on, obstructed academic staff utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for improved job management efficiency in colleges of education (COEs) in Anambra State. It was found out that academic staff holds positive perceptions regarding the potential benefits of AI technology for their improved job management efficiency in COEs in Anambra State. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that both the Federal and Anambra State government should allocate adequate financial resources and establish funding mechanisms that supports ongoing staff training likewise, the acquisition, mobilization, maintenance, upgrades and accessibility of AI technologies and infrastructure, in order to alleviate financial constraints and ensure sustained integration of AI for improved job management efficiency in the COEs