Efficacy of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skills on Competency Level among Secondary School Computer Teachers in Zamfara State

This study examined efficacy of ICT skills on competency levels of computer teachers in Zamfara state. The study is descriptive research of a survey type. A structured questionnaire tagged "ICT needs and competence level among secondary school computer teachers in Zamfara State" was used to generate data for the study. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha and the Alpha value was found to be 0.73. Draft questionnaire was presented to experts and specialists in ICT for face validation. The target population for the study was computer studies teachers in Zamfara State during the 2021/2022 academic session. A sample size of fifty (29 males and 21 females) computer studies teachers were randomly selected from public and private schools in Zamfara state, representing about 10% of the entire computer teachers in the state. The research questions were analyzed using frequency count and percentage and hypotheses tested using t-test statistical and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that computer studies teachers in Zamfara state are aware they need to be ICT literate to effectively teach their computer studies. Findings also revealed that the teachers have higher competence level in the use of ICT for instructional purposes. The study therefore concluded that the teachers who are the final instrument in curriculum implementations have the desired competency in the utilization of ICT for instructional purposes. Therefore, appropriate integration of ICT in education, especially at the lower level, should not be neglected so as to bring about effective and efficient educational system. Alternative power supply should also be made available for ICT facilities in schools.

Keyword: Competency, computer studies, ICT, teacher