Extent Of Availability And Uses Of Computers In State And Private Secondary Schools

INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Science and computer education is of paramount important in the technology development of any country of the world.
Nigeria as a developing country can not be left out. In her quest for economic and technological development, therefore, the emphasis of science and science education have been greatly stressed by the federal and state government in the past and up till date.
Furthermore, computer which is an electronic device that is capable of accepting data craw facts from which required information is produced, as input, processes the data and produces information (that is information gotten from the processed data) as out put, fast, accurately and thus more efficiently than human being is a very important subjects and also a central science subject which can be applied in other subjects and in various aspects of our daily lives. For instance in Engineering, medicine, commercial purposes, security, schools learning, and administrator, communication networks, brewing to mention but are few. With the knowledge of computer education the problem of school record such as administration register, fees – registrar, staff record, school account etc can be prepared, amended, updated with the computer.
From the foregoing a well programmed science education is needed to achieve the above knowledge for the development of technological growth in the country.
Gbanganja (1991) et el envisaged that the best as of building a country to be scientifically and technologically mounted is to strengthen science education. Computer education which has just been introduced into most Nigerian secondary schools but has not been included in the West Africa examination council (WAEC)’s syllabus is more challenging because, everybody want to be computer literate. Computer learning, comprises both theoretical as well as practical aspects, unlike formerly when the use of computer was associated with big companies and parastatals like conglomerates, andis and other financial houses.
Preliminary investigations carried out by the researchers, during teaching practice, shows that computer education has been embraced by all Nigerians, hence, computer education is offered as a general subject in schools.
It is against this background that the study is intended to investigate the extent of availability and the use of computer in state and private secondary schools in Enugu metropolis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
For the past decades, computer learning was not part of the curriculum of Nigeria secondary schools but because of the dynamic nature of the world, technology had changed rapidly and Nigeria is welcoming the change to enjoy all the facilities that computer provides.
Even through computer education has been introduced into the curriculum of both government and private owned secondary schools in Enugu State, there is pavaty of research evidence on the extent of availability and use of computer in teaching the subject. In question form, the problem of this study is: (1) To what extent are government and private secondary schools in Enugu state equipped with computers and how are these computers utilized in the teaching of the subject?

PURPOSES OF THE STUDY
This study is aimed at investigating the extent of availability and use of computer in state and private secondary schools in Enugu metropolis.
Consequently, in carrying out the study, the researchers intend to:
1. Find out if he state government secondary schools and private secondary schools in Enugu metropolis have computers.
2. Determine what the available computers are used for in these schools.
3. Find out the kind of software package and applications programs learned in each of the school types.
4. Find out the problems encountered by students in the study of computer as a school subject.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Science and Technology have become an area of much emphasis in Nigeria today, as a result of which computer has not only been included in the curriculum of our secondary schools but has been made a compulsory subject. Since computer study requires more of practical than theory there is therefore, the need to find out if there are enough computer in our secondary schools.
The result from this study will be useful to the curriculum planners, who will know the areas where emphasis will be directed to whom planning in other to yield better result in the use of computer in secondary schools. It will also be useful to the ministry of education and private schools owners by making them aware of the areas where computers should be provided and take appropriate measures to repair the non functioning ones and provide adequate security against theft and vandalization.
Finally, this research project will equally serve as a source of information for further research work.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is undertaken and limited to state government and privately owned secondary schools in Enugu metropolis.
The researchers intend using J.S.S III classes have difficulties in completing forms without being guided, which will affect their responds.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The limitations of the study include most especially inadequate finance and time. For this reason sampled population was used for data collection. The assessment cannot be without flaws as only 33 secondary schools were used to represents all other secondary schools in Enugu metropolis.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions were posed and answered in the following course of the study.
1) To what extent are computers available in state and private secondary schools?
2) What are the computers used for in these schools?
3) What kind of software packages and application programs are learned by students?
4) What problems are encountered by students in the study of computer as a school subject?