Abstract:
The study focused on the assessment of the availability and utilization of Information Facilities in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education. The study utilizes a survey research design. Four research Questions were developed and two hypothesis were tested at 0.05 level of significance and relevant degrees of freedom. The population comprised 300 research subjects made up of Unit directors, supervisors, secretaries and clerks of the Beyelsa State Ministry of Education. The entire population was studied. The instrument used in data collection was a structured questionnaire duly validated by three experts from the Department of Vocational Teacher Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The reliability Coefficient of the instrument for the study was 0.82 which was calculated using Cronbach Alpha Reliability Test. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviations while the hypotheses were tested using the t-test. It was found that the Information Technology facilities available and utilized in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education are the Desktop and Laptops Computers, Laser jet printers, Printers, photocopies, telephones, mobile phones and digital cameras. It was found out that media computers, portable projector, electronic binders, power back up for VSAT and Server; microwave radio link were not available and consequently were not utilized. It was also found out that there are some benefits in the utilization of Information Technology facilities, such as it creates job satisfaction, improves employee productivity, enhances speed and accuracy, provided speedy communication and facilitates the storage and retrieval of information technology facilities. It was found out that there are adequate computers, inadequate information technology experts, poor maintenance; irregular power supply among others. It was concluded that the Computer Desktop and its accessories are the most available and most widely used information and technology facility in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education. It was recommended that Efforts should be made by the Bayelsa State Government towards the procurement of modem information technology facility such as portable digital Assistants (PDA), wireless local area Networks (WLAN), wide Area Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) for effective data transfer management in the ministry. Also the staff of the ministry should be given some retraining by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education on the skills involved in the use of these information technology facilities for effective office operations.
