Challenges Undermining the Teaching of ICT as a Core Subject in Senior High Schools in Ghana: A Case Study of Selected Schools in Kumasi Metropolis

Abstract

The rapidity with which Information Communication Technology (ICT) is emerging and its effect on socio-economic activities cannot be exaggerated. The main objective of the study was to assess challenges undermining the teaching of ICT as a core subject in Senior High Schools in Ghana: a case study of selected schools in Kumasi Metropolis. The study used a case study design approach and sample size for the study was 80 respondents. The study used convenience and purposive sampling techniques to select respondents for the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The study findings show that all the respondents (100%) strongly agree that the introduction of ICT has created ICT knowledge sharing, facilitated teaching enhancement among students, ICT skills development among students, students produced can compete globally in terms of ICT application and has improved students’ access to communication respectively. All the respondents (100%) strongly agree that the introduction of ICT in senior high school is timely and helping students acquire the basic ICT skills and knowledge. All the 80 (100%) respondents strongly agree that inadequate trained ICT teachers, inadequate learning and teaching materials, lack of ICT infrastructure, lack of constant power supply, high cost of internet connectivity and high cost of ICT equipment do affect the effective teaching. The study concluded that knowledge and skills gained from the study of ICT will help students to use ICT, teachers do support the implementation of the introduction of ICT into senior high school curriculum and there are many challenges negatively affecting the teaching of ICT as a core subjects. The study recommended that the Ministry of Education and Curriculum Research Development Division of the Ghana Education Service should come together to address the challenges opposing the teaching of ICT as a core subject in  senior high schools.

Keywords: ICT, computer, school curriculum, education, information