ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) DEVICES FOR THE TRAINING OF OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT STUDENTS IN RUFUS GIWA POLYTECHNIC, OWO, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was designed to assess availability and utilization of ICT devices for the training of Office Technology and Management (OTM) students in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.  ICT is an electronic device use in processing information. Specifically, the study assessed the extent of availability of ICT devices in OTM laboratories.  Also, the adequacy of ICT devices needed for training OTM students in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic as prescribed by NBTE and the extent to which OTM students utilize ICT devices during training in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. The study adopted the descriptive survey design.  Three research questions were generated for the study. The population of the study consisted of all the HND I and HND II OTM students totalling120.  Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select one hundred (100) students as sample of the study. Data were collected for the study through the administration of validated structured questionnaire on the respondents.  The mean and standard deviation statistics were used to analyze the collected data. The findings of the study revealed that most of the ICT devices such as Internet devices, video and Audio conference, Scanning machine, Fax machine, Telephone were not available while the available ones like Computer Laboratory and Overhead projector, Interactive whiteboard, Photocopy machine, Laptop/Desktop, printers, Storage devices were inadequate. The study concluded that, some ICT devices were available while some were not available.  The available ones were grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the students.  The implication of this is that students might not be able to acquire the much needed ICT skills.  Recommendations were made among which is the need to provide the required ICT devices for OTM Department which must be well utilized by the students during training.