ASSESSING STUDENTS' UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FOR QUALITY EDUCATION IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

The importance of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education has long been recognized, not only in Nigeria, but elsewhere in the world today. This survey-designed study assessed students' utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for quality education in South-South Nigerian public universities. One research question and three hypotheses were isolated to guide this investigation. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted to draw a sample size of 4 public universities located in South-South Nigeria, from which 400 students out of the students' population were used as subjects. Data collection was carried out using University Students' Utilization of ICT for Quality Education Questionnaire (USUIQEQ). Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using Mean Rating, Population t-test and Independent t-test statistical techniques. Results obtained disclosed that university students use ICT most to practice what they have learned. Their utilization of ICT for quality education is significantly low. Students' utilization of ICT for quality education is significantly influenced by gender slightly, but largely, not significantly influenced by gender. Male students had higher mean values in 5 activities, while female students also had higher mean values in the same number of activities in their utilization of ICT for quality education. Students' utilization of ICT for quality education is not significantly influenced by their institution of affiliation. Students in federal universities had slightly higher mean values, except in one activity where their state university counterparts were better. It was recommended that ICT infrastructure should be provided in universities so that students can have unrestricted access and utilization of them, amongst others.