DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION IN SCHOOLS CURRICULUM ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE URBANIZED AREAS OF AKWA IBOM STATE: PERCEIVED PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES.

The study examined the status of digital technology utilization (DTU) in schools curriculum administration (SCA) within the urbanized areas of Akwa Ibom State: Perceived prospects and challenges. The study was conducted in Oron, Eket, Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo Local Government Areas. Five research questions were answered using cross-sectional survey design. Population of 141 was used consisting of 36principals, 100 vice-principals and 5 Directors in SSEB in the study area. Census sampling technique was utilized because the population was manageable. Data derived using researcher's designed instrument titled: "DTUSCS". The DTUSCS was validated using content validation by experts in Department of Curriculum and Teaching, University of Calabar and was tested for reliability using Cohen's Kappa Statistics which resulted at 0.79.. Data analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage, graph, charts and mean projections. Results indicate a very low extent of DTU in SCA (x̄=1.35) with DTU in CO (x̄=1.77)>CE(x̄=1.22)>CO(x̄=1.07). Results also shown that DT tool/platforms often utilized for SCA are laptops (72.4%), emails (70.1%), digital filing (57.4%), online libraries (53%), AI (41%), and data analysis software (17.2%). The prominent perceived prospects of DTU in SCA include easy management of data, promotion of staff productivity, and easy determination of trend in curriculum administration effectiveness for accurate projection. The perceived challenges among others were unreliable electrical source, lack of or poor emerging DT knowledge among staff (school administrators), lack of accessibility to DT tools, and government failure in adopting intentional and proactive measures (through DT) in improving quality education in the State. It is recommended that government should provide schools with DT tools, and as well, makes it mandatory for schools administrators to utilize DT in SCA for easy tracking of quality education outcome.