The availability and utilisation of local area network in senior high schools in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

The aim of the study was to ascertain the availability and utilisation of local area network in Senior High School in the Central Region of Ghana. The purposive sampling was used to select three hundred and eighty students, ICT teachers and assistant headmasters of selected schools. Data were collected from students, ICT teachers and assistant headmasters for analysis.The study revealed that students, ICT teachers and school administration were dissatisfied with the availability of LAN and LAN tools as well as the utilisation level of the LAN tools available. The schools also express concerns on poor or no extension of LAN to other part of the school such as headmasters office, account office, library etc.. The school administration admitted that, it is responsible for the provision of LAN tools in their schools but was constrained by inadequate funds. Based on the outcome of the study, it was recommended that senior high schools should be provided with LAN tools to facilitate data communication. Also, the G.E.S., PTAs and corporate bodies should assist schools to acquire LAN tools regularly to areas such as the headmaster’s office, assistant headmasters’ offices, science Laboratories, classrooms and staff common room to promote digital data communication. Finally, networking experts should be employed permanently to help configure and educate the entire school population about the uses of LAN tools such as printing, sharing DBMS, etc. and more importantly record keeping to help enrich the technological knowledge of students, teachers and administrators to promote teaching and learning.