Policy Analysis on ICT in Education: A Case of Public High Schools in New Juaben Municipal of Ghana

Abstract

ICT has brought some degree of changes in every bit of our daily life from education, health, sports etc. Educators and governments have also devoted huge resources to the provision of technology in the learning environment. Despite the increase in ICT tools in Ghanaian Senior High schools, most of the schools seem to be teaching ICT literacy instead of complete integration of the ICT tools in the curriculum to enhance the teaching and learning process. This study assessed whether ICT policy has accomplished its aim, thus enhancing the teaching and learning process in all the five schools in the New Juaben District of the Eastern Region. A purposive sampling method was used in the selection of the participants. The selected participants consist of administrators and teachers which was taken from all the five senior high schools for the interview. The main findings of the study were that most of the teachers lack training and knowledge about computers and have no previous experience in the use of computers. Also, inadequate ICT infrastructure in the schools was the other major factors inhibiting the integration of ICT into the learning and teaching process. Furthermore, it was found that there were schools which after receiving technical equipment failed to use equipment properly due to negligence and irresponsibility. Moreover, the study revealed that lack of training and technical knowledge made it difficult for teachers to make use of the given equipment. Finally, it was revealed through the study that majority of the participants considered the use of the ICTs as the preferred of the younger generation and that ICT should be taught as a subject on its own and not integrated into all the other subjects.It is recommended that ICT infrastructures should be provided to the Senior High Schools for effective teaching and learning process since it is the basic stage of equipping the youth with the necessary skills and knowledge for national development. Teachers should be given the necessary training in ICT usage so that they become familiar with the modern pedagogy of imparting knowledge and skills, and possibly become part of the curriculum structure for their professional training. Governments ought to move forward the training of principals, teachers and computer staff on the utilize of computers and other ICT tools through seminars, workshops and in-service training.

Keywords: ICT in Education, Policy Implementation, High School, New Juaben.

DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/9-7-05

Publication date:July 31^st 2019