Evaluation of Internet Facilities for Learning among Undergraduate Students of Colleges of Education and Universities in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the availability and utilization of internet facilities for learning among 200-level undergraduate students in colleges of education and universities in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Two research questions were raised, and two hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. A descriptive survey research design was employed to assess the extent and adequacy of internet facilities for learning in the selected institutions. The population consisted of all 200-level undergraduate students in these institutions, with a sample of 600 respondents selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, designed to evaluate the availability and adequacy of internet facilities. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, to measure the extent of availability. Additionally, a chi-square analysis was conducted to determine significant differences between universities and colleges of education regarding internet facility availability and adequacy. The findings revealed significant disparities in internet access between the two types of institutions. Universities provided better internet access, with 46.9% of university students reporting internet availability as "Highly Available," compared to 32.5% of students in colleges of education. This difference aligns with existing research, which attributes better internet infrastructure in universities to differences in funding, scope, and educational priorities. Interestingly, despite lower availability, internet utilization was higher in colleges of education. About 41.5% of students in colleges of education reported using the internet "Very Often," compared to 40.0% of university students. This suggests that students in colleges of education rely more on internet resources to compensate for limited access to other academic materials, whereas university students benefit from additional resources such as digital libraries and research databases. The study also found that female students demonstrated higher engagement with internet facilities for academic purposes in both institution types. Specifically, 45.4% of female students in colleges of education and 51.5% in universities reported high utilization levels. This gender disparity highlights the growing participation of female students in ICT-based learning. These findings underscore the need for enhanced internet access across tertiary institutions, particularly in colleges of education, to bridge the gap and support students' learning needs.