Towards the Access to and Usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Polytechnic Education

Abstract

This paper focuses on access to and use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in Polytechnic Education in Ghana using the Accra Polytechnic, as a case study. The study assessed the impact ICT has had on teaching and learning in polytechnic education. Using a quantitative survey research methodology, data was collected from twenty (20) lecturers and one hundred (105) students of Accra Polytechnic. The data for the study was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16. The results of the study revealed that the majority of lecturers (90%) and students (74%) of Accra Polytechnic had access to and use ICT facilities but there were inadequate facilities, little access time and little use of the application software available to them to improve teaching and learning. For these reasons, the promised benefits of ICT in education as illustrated in this paper would only be achieved, if Accra Polytechnic gets enough and new technology, facilitates the right ICT curricula and pedagogies and acquires long-term financial commitments for ICT implementation.