Computer Science Education Difficult For Students In Ghana And Nigeria

In examining the senior secondary school computer science curriculum in Ghana and Nigerian, a study by Gbeleyi, , Awaah, Okebukola, Shabani, & Potokri, reports that, students find some topics/ concepts difficult to learn.

The researchers argue that, there have been few studies on students’ difficulty in the computer studies curriculum of African senior secondary schools. Their study therefore attempted to fill this gap by investigating the concepts students find difficult in the Ghanaian and Nigerian computer science curriculum and the influence of students’ career interests on these perceived difficult concepts. They argue that, their study is important to the extent that understanding of “where the shirt tights” regarding topics difficulty will guide teachers, students, secondary schools’ managers, and governments in applying applicable remediating measures.

The study sought to establish (a) the concepts that students perceive to be difficult in the computer studies curriculum in Ghanaian and Nigerian schools and (b) if there is a statistically significant relationship between students’ career interests and perceived concept difficulty in computer studies. Anchored on cognitive constructivism theory of Piaget, a quantitative method was employed with the sample (N = 1776).

The study reports computer basics and evolution, programme development cycle, managing computer files, developing problem-solving skills, computer ethics and human concerns, networking, logic circuits, machine language, flowcharting, algorithm and arithmetic logic unit as perceived difficult concepts. The study also found a negative statistically significant relationship between students’ career interests and perceived concept difficulty in the Ghanaian and Nigerian computer studies curriculum. Various remediating measures have been preferred.

The following suggestions are implicit in their study; diverse factors affect student understanding of different concepts in computer studies. This necessitates teachers of computer studies to figure out such factors to enhance teaching and learning. Students’ environment is a key pointer for their understanding of concepts. Computer studies teachers should ensure teaching methods are in sync with student environs to foster understanding of concepts in computer studies. Various stakeholders such as the government, parents and teachers should promote students’ interests in computer studies to improve students’ understanding.

The study has been published by Humanities and Social Sciences Communication, a Scopus indexed journal.

Reference
Gbeleyi, O. A., Awaah, F., Okebukola, P. A., Shabani, J., & Potokri, O. C. (2022). Influence of students’ career interests on perceived difficult concept in computer studies in Ghanaian and Nigerian secondary schools. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1), 1-6.