An Investigation of Federal College of Education Pankshin Lecturers Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Competences: Implications for Quality Teacher Education

Abstract

Integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into education has been an important concern in many countries. In Nigeria national economic empowerment and development strategies (NEEDS) has made efforts in ensuring that ICT is taught at each level of education. However, as in many developing countries ICT tools are provided to teachers without considering their competencies in ICT. This study investigate FCE Pankshin lectures ICT competency level towards the quality of teacher education, the difference in lecturers ICT competence based on their demographic characteristics and factors that had impacted on their ICT competences. The data were collected from 49 lecturers by means of closed ended questionnaire titled "Questionnaire for FCE Pankshin Lecturers on ICT Competency". The reliability coefficient of the instrument was 0.9 established through Crombach Alpha. The collected data was analyzed using statistical package of social science (SPSS) version 20.0. Decisions were made based on the mean score of 3.0. Any mean that was 3.0 and above was sufficient while below 3.0 was considered insufficient. The findings of the study indicated that majority of lecturers perceived themselves as competent in both basic and advanced use of ICT. Computer ownership, pre-service training as well as in-services training are significantly related to the perceived ICT competence. The lecturers' competence does not differ according to gender as well as according to basic and advanced ICT usage. It is recommended among others that the competence possessed by the lecturers be strengthen through workshops, seminars and in-service training, make internet service available to promote e-learning as a means of accelerating the achievement of NEEDS objectives and realization of the nation's goal of Vision 20:2020.