EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF ICT IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BAYELSA STATE

Abstract This study examined the effective application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the management and administration of public secondary schools in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population consisted of 3,600 teachers, from which a sample size of 430 respondents was drawn using stratified random sampling and proportional allocation techniques. A structured questionnaire titled “ICT Application in School Administration Questionnaire (ICTASAQ)” was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts in Measurement and Evaluation in Federal University Otuoke, while its reliability was determined using the Cronbach Alpha method. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions, while t-test statistics were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that ICT is applied to a high extent in the management of public secondary schools. The study also found that ICT improves administrative efficiency, enhances communication, promotes transparency, and supports effective decision-making. However, the study identified major challenges hindering effective ICT application, including inadequate ICT facilities, poor funding, lack of technical skills among school personnel, and unstable power supply. Furthermore, no significant difference was found between urban and rural teachers regarding ICT application, benefits and challenges. The study concluded that ICT is an essential tool for effective school administration but requires adequate support for optimal utilization. It was recommended that government and stakeholders should provide ICT infrastructure, ensure regular training for school administrators, and improve funding and power supply in schools.