ASSESSMENT OF THE PROVISION AND UTILIZATION OF DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES IN PUBLIC JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH- CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the provision and utilization of digital infrastructural facilities in public junior schools in secondary North-Central Zone, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design, two research questions and hypotheses were developed. The population of the study was 25,272, while the sample size of 384 was determined by research advisors sampling table (2006). The study adopted simple random and proportionate sampling techniques in selecting 28 public junior secondary schools in seven states in North Central Zone, Nigeria. The instrument used for the collection of data was a self-structured questionnaire titled, Provision and Utilization of Digital Infrastructural Facilities Questionnaire (PUDIFQ). The two instruments were made on a five-point rating scale of Strongly Agreed, Agreed, Undecided, Disagreed and Strongly Disagreed, and were scored 5, 4,3,2 and1 respectively, with a reliability coefficient index of 0.93. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentage for the demographic variables. The hypotheses were tested using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 mean score. The findings from the study revealed that; digital facilities were inadequately provided in public junior secondary schools in North-Central Zone, Nigeria. However, the available digital infrastructural facilities were properly utilized. The study recommended that government should collaborate with Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA), School Base Management Committee (SBMC) and Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) to ensure adequate provision of digital facilities in public junior secondary schools.  Stakeholders in education sector should ensure proper training of staff and effective utilization of available digital facilities in Public Junior Secondary Schools in North-Central Zone, Nigeria.