Role of school media centres in technology integration in Nigerian schools: an exploration

Abstract

The study examines the role of School Media Centres (SMC) in technology integration in Nigerian schools. The historical research method or what some refer as historical inquiry was adopted for the study. It found that the School Media Centres have an indispensible role to play in this regard. However, several factors were discovered to militate against the realization of the centre’s full potentials. These factors include poor implementation of ICT in schools, lack of teachers’ confidence and teachers’ computer anxiety, lack of teachers’ competency due to lack of time for training, lack of access to resources, infrastructural challenges such as erratic power supply, and lack of technical support. If these militating factors are not addressed, the Centres may never be able to contribute meaningfully to technology integration in Nigerian schools. The study, therefore, recommends that a change in government attitude to technology acquisition, integration, and use; formulation of a sound ICT integration policy distinct from the general ICT policy; and improved funding among others are required.