PROBLEMS AFFECTING STUDENTS’ INTERNET SERVICE UTILIZATION IN NIGERIAN PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

This study investigated the problems affecting Internet service utilization in private secondary schools in Onitsha Education zone of Anambra State. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated. The researcher employed descriptive survey research design using questionnaire. The population of the study consisted of 3,374 students. The sample of 640 respondents was drawn from the population and eight schools which had Internet services for at least five years were considered and used. The sample was drawn through purposive sampling technique. An instrument titled “Problems Affecting Internet Services Utilization Questionnaire (PAISOQ)” was used to elicit responses from the respondents. Out of 640 questionnaire items administered on the respondents, six hundred (600) questionnaire drafts were returned. The data obtained were analyzed using mean frequency and T-test. The findings revealed that irregular electricity power supply, high cost of purchasing computer/Internet facilities and inadequate skilled personnel are some of the major problems affecting the students from the utilization of Internet services in private schools in Onitsha Education Zone. Based on the findings, it was recommended that proprietors should buy generators to serve as an alternative source of power supply. There should be continuous and periodic training of teachers and students on practical and functional knowledge of the computer and access to internet-based resources in order to lower marginal cost and purchase of greater volume of bandwidth, the private secondary school proprietors were advice to form a consortium for purchasing Internet bandwidth.