Assessment of Information Literacy Skills among Students of Opoku Ware and Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High Schools in Kumasi

Abstract

There has been a global acceptance of the need for students at all levels of education to acquire Information Literacy skills. Currently, there has been proliferation of information sources as information comes in various forms and it is prudent for every individual and especially students to be wise information users to assume greater control of their own learning. This study assesses the information literacy skills of students of Opoku Ware and Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High Schools in Kumasi. The main objectives of the study are to determine the students skills to access information; gather evidence on how students evaluate information; ascertain the students awareness of legal and ethical implication of information usage and finally to investigate barriers to access information by the students. The study employs the cross-sectional survey research methodology. Questionnaires were distributed to one hundred and seventy (170) students in the two schools which represent 10% of the total population. An interview was also conducted with the heads of the two schools and with the library staff of the two schools. A total of four interviewees were used. Data was analyzed with the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) in line with the objectives of the study. The findings of the study show that though both schools have libraries, they are manned by unprofessional staff that do not possess the skills to organize orientation and user education and as well teach the students to acquire the skills of Information Literacy. Further revelations show students’ lack of understanding of how to evaluate information from both print and online sources. Furthermore, only a few students from both schools were aware of the issues of legal and ethical surrounding the use of information. Some challenges to accessing information by students are the unavailability of the internet services on campus especially as in the case of Opoku Ware School and the high cost of textbooks. The study therefore recommends among other things, the incorporation of Information Literacy Program into Senior High School Students (SHS) Curriculum, provision of functional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories with Internet connectivity, employment of trained library staff and the collaboration between librarians, teaching staff and the major stakeholders in the educational sector in Ghana to promote Information Literacy programs.