Impact Of Information And Communication Technology (ICT) On School Management Information System

INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Oketunji (2001), stated that, every human being needs to communicate. The human race need to communicate in a most efficient form and getting the information needed in a timely fashion is of immense importance. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is basically an electronic based system of information transmission, reception, processing and retrieval, the computers for example are used to convert, store, protect, process, transmit and securely retrieve information. Ehimwenma (2006) pointed that ICT also involves the application of software from the smallest home to the largest enterprise package and online. Software service and the hardware needed to the largest global networks operated by major commercial enterprises and of course the internet ICT at global levels, serves as the driving force for changing business environment due to its integration into all aspects of the school.
Oviogbodu (2010) observed that effective introduction of ICT in vocational training will facilitate knowledge transfer, and equip stakeholders (teachers, students, trainees etc) to join on-line learning communities to acquire managerial techniques and skills to enable them create administrative and productive, school entities in the Nigeria society.
Schools play a fundamental role in every aspect of a country. They are the foundation upon which the future generations are built and they are highly relevant on information related to research, theories principles and experiments relating to education to their students. Hence schools are highly information intensive and sensitive contribution to their performance.
The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is widespread from the most developed Countries through the developing Countries to the least developed countries although the extent of over all use of is directly related to the level of development (Khalita 2000).
In this age of globalization, ICT has become a necessity for educational Institutions if they must survive and compete with rest of the world.
Information is one of the major determining factors to enable school management make the right decision that will affect both the operational and administrative aspect of the school.
ICT tends to optimize the efficiency of recording accounting interpreting and other functions consequently ICT is totally dependent on structures and sub systems such as infrastructure, ICT literacy which helps in the processing of information coming from these systems.
An investigation on the impact of ICT in schools in Enugu was necessary in order to determine the expected achievement and successes of ICT implementation in the educational sector. Hence this study examined the general impact of Information and Communication Technology in the school management. This will reveal the latest trends of ICT application and effect on schools in the Country with special regard to Enugu North.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Before the advent of information and Communication Technology ICT the preparation presentation and storage of Education Information were done manually in such that management decisions were poor and full of errors due to the human factor. Delay in acquiring current information were a frequent re-occurring problem hindering decisions and the passing of information to student was also affected.
The education sector as the choice or interest of the study is due to the fact that Information and Communication Technology plays a role in management and internal control system of school and ultimately the student.
Recent investments by the World Bank Microsoft in computerization to improve competitiveness and performance in Nigeria calls for an investigative study and a few of such studies relate to education.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The essence of this project is to study the impact of information and Communication technology on the operation and administration of school management in Enugu North L.G.A. The study will seek to achieve the following objectives:
i. To study the impact of ICT on student performance
ii. To investigate the extent the use of ICT has been used to improve management decision.
iii. To investigate the relationship between ICT and school management activity.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i. What accounts for low support for ICT by school management?
ii. What actions are necessary to get support for ICT by school management?
iii. Is there a link between non-implementation of ICT in schools and the attitude of school management towards ICT?

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This project examines the general impact of Information Communication Technology in schools – Currently, the educational industry have demonstrated a low amount of application of ICT. The significance of this project is to evaluate how the education industry has applied ICT. The significance of this research seeks to understand how computerization of school affects its management that is how ICT application and use of software program impacts on schools. This study shall reveal the benefits of ICT use in the education sector and identify the technology demands and their legal framework raised by the education sector and the extent to which demands have been made. This study will aid education policy makers to formulate policies to make quick decisions regarding the key steps to be taken to ensure compliance to Information and Communication Technology and the way forward. The study will aid further research on ICT effects and the Impact of the ICT in an environment. This study will be of great significance and benefit to school management both private, public school, principals, parents, teacher, government and the academic community. The tangible and intangible benefits ICT provides can not be over-emphasized. ICT has Improved performance by speeding up management decisions and administration procedures. ICT aids the exchange of confidential information through secret channels such as school intranets or through password protected websites. Information and Communication Technology can be used to achieve better student relations by using student relationship management software to monitor and measure student attitudes. Oliver Ron (2002) argued that ICT has created more cost efficient processes.
Cornoy Martin (2005) stated that ICT has increased access to resources hence education resource can be accessed anywhere at any time.

SCOPE OF STUDY
In this study the researcher sets out to find out the impact of (ICT) on School Management Information system in Enugu North L.G.A. of Enugu State. The researcher will not conduct the research throughout the three Local Governments in Enugu Urban with reference to competence, interest, available time and resources. The Local Government was chosen because it has taken steps towards imbibing ICT culture.

LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
As – result of the sensitivity of the topic and also the broad nature of the topic the research encountered many problems which acted as limiting factors. The cost of interviewing respondents and printing many questionnaires was taken into consideration in order to minimize expenses and to ensure that respondents interviewed form enough representative population. Finance resources limited the research since fund is the major backbone of all forms of healthy research.
TIME: The time frame set aside for this broad topic is too short Nevertheless, the research tried to seek for information from available sources. The available time was not enough to be able to consider a wider respondent population as no length of time may be to be deemed to be adequate.

DEFINITION OF TECHNICAL TERMS
i. Information – processed data or fact
ii. Information and Communication Technology – Is the acquisition, dissemination and Communication of pictorial textual and verbal information through the principal combination of computer and Communication Technology.
iii. Computer – This is an electronic devices that work under some special stored programs with the capacity to accept input, process and generate an output at a very high speed.
iv. Software – these are set of programs or application packages that hand specific task or function.
v. Programs – These are set of instructions that the computer understands.
Internet – It means international networks it is the inter connectivity of global networks.