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Article Title: Examining ICT Situation and its Effects on Studies among Pre-Tertiary Education Students in the East Mamprusi District of Northern Region, Ghana
by Iddrisu Shaibu and Abdulai Abubakari

Abstract:
The study examined the effects of ICT usage on students in the East Mamprusi District (EMD) of Northern Region, Ghana. It sought to establish the availability and access to ICT tools in school, purposes for which students used ICT and how ICT use affected their studies. The survey method was used to sample the views of 322 respondents selected from four Educational Institutions in the District. The respondents comprised Students (282) and Teachers (40). This numbers represents 79.2% and 95% response rate for Students and Teachers respectively. The study found that, students had restricted access to ICT in schools due to limited availability of ICT facilities/toolsas well as ban on SHS students from using mobile phones in school. It was also established that students used ICT mainly for acquiring computer skills, communication and entertainment rather than for academic purposes. Students� access to computer and internet had marginally positive effect on their studies while ownership of personal mobile phones had a marginally negative effect on their studies. Lack of internet connectivity, poor electricity supply, inadequate computers and ban on students from using mobile phonesin schoolwere the main challenges faced by students in using ICT in school.The study recommends that, government, educators and all stakeholders in the education sector should work at increasing availability and access to ICT facilities and tools in the Pre-Tertiary Educational Institutions in the District.

Keywords: ICT, Computers, Students, Internet, Teachers, Communication

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