AVAILABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND USE OF INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN MANAGEMENT OF

STUDENTS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS IN MAKERERE

UNIVERSITY

MATOVU MOSES

BA.EDUC (Hons)

2005/HDO4/4246U

RESEARCH DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN

PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF

MASTER OF EDUCATION IN INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYOF

MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

NOVEMBER 2009

i

TABLE OF CONTENT

List of figures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ iii

List of tables ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv

Declaration ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- v

Approval------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ vi

Dedication ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vi

Acknowledgement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ vii

Abstract ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1

1.0 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

1.1 Background ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

1.1.3 Conceptual Perspective ---------------------------------------------------------------- 3

1.1.4 Contextual Perspective----------------------------------------------------------------- 4

1.2 Problem Statement --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

1.3 Purpose ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

1.4 Objectives ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

1.5 Research Questions -------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

1.7 Scope------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

1.8 Significance ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

2.0 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

2.2 Review of Related Literature ------------------------------------------------------- 11

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21

3.0 Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21

3.1 Research Design ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 21

3.2 Population ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21

3.3 Sampling Strategies ------------------------------------------------------------------ 22

3.4 Quantitative Methods ---------------------------------------------------------------- 23

3.5 Data Collection Instruments--------------------------------------------------------- 23

3.6 Validity And Reliability of The Instruments -------------------------------------- 24

3.7 Procedure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 24

3.8 Ethical Considerations --------------------------------------------------------------- 25

3.9 Data Analysis ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION --------------- 26

4.0 Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26

4.1 Background Information ------------------------------------------------------------- 26

4.1.2 Current rank / position/ designation ------------------------------------------------ 26

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ------------------- 61

5.0 Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61

5.1 Discussion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61

5.1.2 Levels of Accessibility of ICT for Examination Management ------------------ 61

ii

5.1.3 Levels of use ICT for Registration Management ---------------------------------- 67

5.2 Conclusions --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 70

5.3 Recommendations ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 71

5.3 Areas for further research -------------------------------------------------------------- 73

REFERENCES --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 74

APENDIX A: Research Instrument for the Teaching Staff ------------------------------------------------------- 84

APPENDIX B: Research Instrument for Administrators---------------------------------------------------------- 85

APPENDIX C: Interview Questions for the Administrators------------------------------------------------------ 89

iii

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Conceptual framework showing levels, accessibility and use of ICT for

management of students academic affairs ---------------------------------------------- 10

Figure 2 : Access levels of Results Examination Management System considered for

successful registration of students for graduation. -------------------------------------- 49

Figure 3: Records Management System ------------------------------------------------------- 51

iv

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Sample size ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22

Table 2: Number of faculties/institutes/schools that responded to the study -------------- 28

Table 3: Gender response distribution --------------------------------------------------------- 29

Table 4: Positions of respondents -------------------------------------------------------------- 29

Table 5: Levels of Availability of ICT--------------------------------------------------------- 31

Table 6: ICT for communication --------------------------------------------------------------- 34

Table 7: Respondents use of computers ------------------------------------------------------ 36

Table 8: ICT for management of examination process -------------------------------------- 37

Table 9: Time saving and ease of using ICT for examination management --------------- 39

Table 10: ICT accessibility for examination management ---------------------------------- 41

Table 11: Accessibility to ICT for examination management (contn.) -------------------- 43

Table 12: Users opinion on access to ICT facilities in examination management ------- 45

Table 13: Operation of the system technological aspects --------------------------------- 48

Table 14: Usability of the system in provision of information ------------------------------ 52

Table 15: Set-up of the system ----------------------------------------------------------------- 54

Table 16: Effect of ICT on administrators and students ------------------------------------- 57

v

DECLARATION

I Matovu Moses hereby declare that the work reported in this dissertation is my original

work and it has never been submitted for award of any certificate, diploma or degree in

this or any other University or institution.

Sign Date

vi

APPROVAL

This dissertation has been done under my supervision and it has been submitted with my

approval.

Dr. Betty Ezati

Sign.. Date

vii

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to all my relatives, teachers and colleagues who greatly supported

me to come up with this piece of work.

viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Am grateful to my supervisor Dr. B. Ezati for guidance and moral boosting that she

provided, to ensure that the final report was up to standard

I would like also to commend the guidance and support of my lecturers Dr. B. Ezati, Mr

Bisaso Ronald, and my colleagues; Mr. Kabugo David, Mr. Kakeeto David and Ms.

Nakintu Rukia towards the accomplishment of this piece of work

A lot of thanks go to Makerere University staff for their kindness and support they

accorded me while carrying out the study. I also acknowledge all those who contributed

in various ways to the study.

ix

ABSTRACT

The study was about availability, accessibility and use if ICT in management of students

academic affairs in Makerere University. This emerged because of the problem that there

was mismanagement of students academic records despite the technological

advancement that had advanced in the University. Such problems include loss of marks,

miscalculation of marks to mention but a few. The study intended to establish how ICT

affected management of students academic affairs. It applied both correlation and cross

sectional survey design. Data were collected using semi-structured survey questionnaires