Factors Militating against Successful Implementation of Computer Studies in 9-Year Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme

Published Online May 2015 in MECS

Technology is the practical application knowledge especially in a particular area to achieve some results. The state of any country or nation’s development depends largely on the technological attainment, that is the greater the level of technological development advancement, the rapid the pace of development, hence, the training of human resources irrespective of the gender should be given higher priority. [11] stated that, following the fast progress of technology, in recent years, and its wide integration in many human activities, education has been changed as well. From mainly a teaching discipline in the past, it transformed into an integrated learning environment that uses various technology tools and solution for enhanced understanding. Also, [16] view the advent of Information and

Communication Technologies and internet make the teaching and learning process simple and extend to the birth of e-learning. Recognizing the impact of a new technologies in the workplace and everyday life, today’s educational institutions try to restructure their academic programs and classroom facilities, in order to minimize the teaching and learning technology gap between today and future. This restructuring process requires effective integration of technologies into existing content in order to provide learners with knowledge of specific subject areas, to promote meaningful learning and to enhance professional productivity. In view of this, the use and learning of computer studies is imperative at nursery or primary for any nation to meet up the changing world. In addition, [14] stated that there are many advantages in using technology in educational settings, for example, they make the learner more interested about the subject, they decrease time, and they provide opportunities to learn in non-traditional ways.

a ccording to [17] c omputers have affected our lives in many ways, in the field of education, computers are perceived as an important tool to transform how we teach, learn, evaluate learning goals and communicate information Therefore, the role of computer and technology in our day to day activities in the present technology cannot be over-emphasized. Some of these roles are:

• i.    Helps pupils to apply scientific knowledge and concepts to better their environment. It also let students to be more involved in the learning process and teachers using interactive multimedia software and hypermedia.

• ii.    Helps pupils to use their brain and hands in vocational and technical areas of specialization

• iii.    The application of computer in our daily office works such as planning, budgeting and other office routine that do take time to implement, hence with the use of computer it can be urgently implemented.

• iv.    It also enhances business transactions such as salary preparation, invoicing, money transaction which could be easily done within a short period of time

• v.    With advent of computer and technology, it has greatly enhances health facilities and access to modern medical care. Telemedicine uses technology to deliver medical services to the point of need. It encompasses all the health care, education, information and administrative services that can be transmitted over distances by telecommunication technologies.

• vi.    In the field of communication, computer and technology has enhanced the transmission of messages of information from one person to another. It includes the usage of fax, video conferencing and the internet. In addition, it is also used in the booking of flights (i.e. seat reservation) and road traffic control, where the computer is used to maintain and control traffic; especially at congested areas.

On recognition of these facts and others, most institutions in the country now introduce computer studies in their curriculum and in the running of their activities. Therefore, the computer operates on the basis of input-process-output. It is common to hear garbage in, garbage out. If you input garbage, the computer will process it as such give you garbage as output.

From the above one can deduce that, computer is an electronic device that is capable of accepting data as input, process the data and gives output as information.

• II.    9-Year Universal Basic Education (Ube) Computer Studies — Aims And Objectives

Computer education is a system of skills acquisition by the use of computer to solve problem. Computer education is seen as a subject organizes to enable people to understand the function, uses and limitations of computer and to provide an opportunity for the study of the modern method of information processing. It is an academic subject because it encourages an understanding of the studies implication.

In 1998, the Federal Government of Nigeria pursue with highest commitment a policy of free and compulsory education known as Universal Basic Education (UBE), hence computer education was entrenched in 6-3-3-4 system of education with the following aims and objectives to:

• 1.  Produce manpower that can be trained on both

• 2.  Produce computer engineers that can repair and

• 3.    Produce experts that can make use of computer in the field of pure and applied science, engineering and research work.

• 4.    Develop scientific attitude and scientific way of planning, observing and working through experiences in problem solving.

• 5.    Acquisition of literacy, numerical like skills and values for lifelong education and useful living.

• 6.    Develop an appreciation of the contribution of computer to man and society and its importance to the future.

software and hardware development.

service faulty components.

Today, the world is continuously fashioned or dominated by Information communication technology (ICT), which is tremendously changing our world and culture. According to [13] ICT encompasses science, technology as well as social sciences on an integrated platform which in turn coordinates and monitors every research and development activities o make this society aware of the present trends. The computer is a major component of ICT. It is tool that have singularly and dramatically continued to change the behavioural patterns of people and corporate entities by determining the way they socialize, learn shop, conduct business, communicate and interact for multi-dimensional mutual reasons. In 2001, the Federal Government approved a National Information Technology Policy and the establishment of the National Information Technology Development (NITDA), with the mission for education , creation of wealth, job creation etc. In response to these, the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2006 through Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and relevant educational stakeholders introduce the 9- year basic education programme which can be summarized to aim at value reorientation, poverty eradication and education to empower the people. It becomes imperative that the existing curricula for primary and junior secondary should be reviewed, restructure and re-aligned to fit into 9-year basic education programme.

In the new curriculum, computer studies is one of the core subjects at all levels of basic education in order to advance Basic Technology for self reliance and key into the emerging global village that the world is moving to.

To meet up these changing needs of the society, computer is beneficial to the students by:

• •    Given the right condition, computer could be beneficial to students in promoting, encouraging and facilitate students to have access to information independently if it is used properly

• •    It also assist students with special needs to be able to realize and achieve their goals by working at their own rate.

• •    Creating greater interest and enthusiasm for learning among the students

• •    Using computer devices in accessing relevant information from the internet

• •    Allowing the learners to have exposure to varieties of vocational and work skills

• •    Promoting students with profound multiple learning disabilities to be able to communicate easily

• •    Using voice communication to gain self confidence and able to mixed socially in schools and their communities and

• •    Having the potential to significantly increase access to guidance services, freeing it from constraints of time and space [12].

• •    Providing the learners with additional resources to handle resource based learning easily.

In addition, [9] itemized the benefit of ICT to the students which include:

• •    Computers can improve independent access for students to education

• •    Students with special educational needs are able to accomplish tasks working at their own.

• •    Create greater enthusiasm for learning amongst students,

• •    Visually impaired students using the internet can access information alongside their sighted peers.

• •    Give greater exposure to vocational and workforce skills for students,

• •    Students  with profound and multiple learning

difficulties can communicate more easily.

• •    Students using voice communication aids gain

confidence and social credibility at school and in their communities.

• •    Increased ICT confidence amongst students motivates them to use the Internet at home for schoolwork and leisure interests.

• •    Provide distance learners country-wide with online educational materials.

• •    Provide learners with additional resources to assist resource-based learning

Hence, computer education curriculum for Basic Education schools in Nigeria takes into account the convergence phenomena in technology, global trends and the characteristics of information age and knowledge based and ICT as driving force behind economic development.

To meet the objectives of 9-year basic education, the aims and objectives of 6-3-3-4 systems was incorporated and reviewed to meet the modern challenges of computer education. Reference [7] curriculum, the learners under the 9-year basic education are expected to:

• 1.    Acquire basic computer skills such as the use of keyboard, mouse and operating systems.

• 2.    Use the computer to facilitate learning electronically.

• 3.    Develop responsible level of competence in ICT applications that will engender entrepreneurial skills.

From the foregoing, one can see that the Universal Basic Education programme in Nigeria is an expression of government commitment to the development of computer education in order to eradicate poverty, create job opportunities and in general to meet up with the trends of global changes in technology.

• III.    Literature Review

Educators and prominent government policy makers have acknowledged that the education system in Nigeria is in dire need of reforms. In Nigeria public school structure, education is not supported by any ICT based systems. And wherever ICT system exists, it is marred by several challenges ranging from power failure; outdated systems to scarcity of ICT qualified educators.

• [15]    observed that ICT provides the communication network that facilitates the expansion of products, ideas and resources among nations and among people regardless of geographical location. However, Nigerian government believes and has seen hard evidence that ICT can play a major role in education and economy development as witnessed in other developed countries

In any educational system, the level of available resources places a restriction on the degree to which any new subject can be introduced into the school curriculum, especially where only the most basic facilities have so far been provided. But ICT is of such importance to the future industrial and commercial health of a country that investment in the equipment, teacher education, and support services necessary for the effective delivery of an ICT- based curriculum should rank high in any set of government priorities. The curriculum takes account of these resource issues and specifies minimum requirements for effective delivery in different circumstance. One of the millennium development goals of the Nigerian nation in the education industry is that schools must be Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliant and in response to this goal, government procured and distributed computers to schools. According to [1] the qualifications of the majority of the teachers are far from being satisfactory due to lack of exposure to college curriculum that does not cater for ICT training. The teachers have poor practical skills in ICT usage since the majority of them could not even use the basic software in computers for the delivery of their lessons and indications are that the teachers lack the necessary skills and knowledge of computers in basic software usage. Administrative support could also take the form policy enactments where ICT competence is made mandatory for school teachers. This can be an effective measure to improving teachers` ICT knowledge and skills [1]; therefore, due to the existing constraints in computer education implementation, remedial action needs to be taken. Reference [6] proposes the need to put in place measures to ensure that adequate access to technical support is provided. [6] Also established that teachers needed training which should be offered on a continuous, rather than a one off basis so that their computer knowledge is upgraded over time.