Assessing the level of internet use among senior high school students in the Atwima Nwabiagya district of the Ashanti region

Abstract

The study sought to find out three main things. First, the general knowledge level of the students and whether or not there is any significant relationship between one’s gender and the knowledge of the internet. Second, the level of internet use among the students and finally, to find out whether students use the internet in a manner that will enhance their studies. Data were gathered from 370 students from four (4) senior high schools in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region out of a total accessible population of 11,729 students. These students were selected through stratified and random sampling. The sample composed male and female students, day and boarding students from all the levels (forms 1, 2, 3 and 4). Questionnaire was the only instrument used for gathering the data. The study found out that students have very high general knowledge of the Internet. It was also found that there is a significant relationship between the students’ gender and their knowledge of the Internet with male students demonstrating higher knowledge of the Internet than their female students. The level of internet use among the students in the district was equally very high. At least 80% of the students use the internet. But what engages the attention of students was more of things that had little or no direct positive impact on their academic work. Majority of the students indicated that they spend more time on watching movies, chatting, surfing, playing games, among others, rather than on academic related issues.