Role Of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) In The Effective Management Of Students Academic Record

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Information revolution started a number of years ago and the role all the world has been good.
This revolution has brought about convergence of information communication technologies (ICT), which have remained at the centre of global, social and economic transformation. The information revolution and extraordinary increase in the spread of knowledge and information which affects directly economic, social, cultural and political activities of all regions of the world including Africa. Information and communication technology (ITC) is defined as computer-based tools used by people to work with the information and communication processing needs of an organization, it encompasses the hardware and software, the network and several other devices (video audio, everalphy camera) that convert information (text) images, sounds motion and others into common digital form.
ICT has made the shift from print to digital information possible which has created an impact on students’ academic records and information centres (Gbaje 2009).
This has enable on-line access and file transfer possible, with networking and resource sharing. Islam and Islam (2006) says that ICT as the role and publication of computers, telecommunication and microelectronics in the acquisition, storage, retrieval transfer and dissemination of information in students, academic records.
ICT is a significant development that provides effective took for managing the available of information generated in students, academic records. The prevalence and rapid development of ICT has transformed students’ information technology age to the knowledge.
In modern ICT based on students the information professionals handle various types of activities in relation to the role of computers and other new information technologies. Before the advent of information and communication technology. (ICT) is students academic records were the sole custodies of information which was predominantly in print. Today students’ academic record is struggling to keep their place as the major source of inquiry in the face of emerging digital technology.
In the modern world, the student’s academic record as information centres can hardly function today without computer and information technologies.
In the overview, the role of information and communication technology (ICT) systems in student’s academic record and information centres in common place all over the world.
This research work is therefore centered on the role of ICT as it enhanced the management of student’s academic record in Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri.

1.2 BRIEF HISTORY OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE OWERRI
The federal polytechnic Nekede Owerri was established in 1978. As a matter of fact, the school was then known as college of technology. It was then temporarily sited at the premises of government technical collage Owerri. The chief Librarian of the then college of technology was appointed in March 1978 and the school opened for its lasses on 15th December 1978. The school was later moved to its permanent site on November 1980 and was renamed on June 1988 from college of technology to the polytechnic. In line with federal government order on renaming of collages of technology, on 7th April 1993 the school finally taken over by the federal government and assumed polytechnic Nekede Owerri. The collection of the library in 1980 was house in one of the apartment of the school of engineering block and later was moved to the new classroom complex in January 1993. by then, the permanent site of the library has not been build until 1988 when the foundation stone was laid by the NBFE Chairman Dr. Adullahi.
The library building was completed in 2000 and commerce users services in 2001 DRCL Osuoji was then acting as Rector in 1993 and later assumed office as the Rector in 1996 which lasted till 2000.
Mr. Chukwuma Chukwu was appointed the acting registra, while Mr. J.U. Obasi was the acting librarian. Chief Uduma took over from Dr. Osuoji in 2000 as the, then acting handed over the month of rectorship to Eng. O.I. Nwankwko who emerged as the 6th substantive digital rector in 2002 and up till date. When the project research is carry out by Mr. Desmond Oparaku is the dean of student affairs and the rector is Dr Mrs. C.U. Njoku.
RECORD AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT
Record and statistics department was establish 1980.
Record and statistics department are those people that keep the record of student that have been offered admission into Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND). They also keep the records of their personal file like school certificate and date of birth certificate. The also keep the record of the following documents:
Age declaration
Passport photography and other important documents.
The principle function of this department
To remark the student after the exams department.
This remark will base on the course, the unit of course title credit and grade made for the course.
After that the will take the average point grade (A-P) of the student will be also take the totality of grade will give the cumulative pass. The various grade are;
Ordinary pass
Low credit
Upper credit
Distinction
On the four point scale, the number of staff working in this department is divided into two part. 45-46 staff working there National Diploma (ND) Higher National Diploma (HND) Mr. A.B. Ogunewe takes care of the National while Chief Okorola take care of the Higher Diploma.
Both departments are still in one house in the same complex.

1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
This is an information age, the dawn of a new era where information flows before us both promise or new ways of thinking living and working through the role of ICT and the effective management. Unfortunately despite the undoubted benefits of ICT in students academic record. Record and statistics department are still far from integrating and equipping the invaluable role of ICT in effective management.
The student academic record has not adopted this role of technologies in record and statistics department. They have brought ineffective management of ICT in student’s academic record.
Arising from the foregone, the role of ICT in students academic record with a special focus on Record and statistics department feral polytechnic Nekede Owerri.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study aims at pointing out the role of ICT in students’ academic records and the need to integrate them into records and statistics department.
To know whether ICT function well in student’s academic records.
To know if those in-charge of student academic records are aware of components of ICT. To find the proper way of funding the proper way of function ICT in students’ academic records.
To known the problem militating against the application of ICT in student academic records.
To know the strategies that can be adopted to over come the problems.

1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION
1) What is the function of ICT in student’s academic records?
2) What is the component of ICT?
3) What is the proper way of function ICT in student’s academic records?
4) What are the problem militating against the role of ICT in student academic records?
5) What are the strategies that can be adopted to over come the problems militating against?

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the role of information and communication technology in effective management of students academic records. Records and statistics department federal polytechnic Nekede Owerri has been chosen to represent other departments the researcher chose the federal polytechnic Nekede Owerri for maximal utilization of time, Nekede campus can physically come in contact with respondents.

1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study is significant because its will contribute to understand the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the effective management of students academic records.
It will also help administrators to be aware of the factors hindering the role of ICT in student academic record and working towards averting the problems. The department will also benefit greatly the function of ICT.
And finally it will help future researchers who will carryout research related to this area of study.