Enhancing Public School Teachers' Competencies and Entrepreneurial Skills through Information and Communication Technology in Kwara State

Abstract

This study investigates the enhancement of teachers' competencies and entrepreneurial skills through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Kwara State, Nigeria. The primary objectives are to assess the perceived importance of ICT for entrepreneurial skill development, explore its influence on acquiring these skills, and analyze its role in increasing financial capability among school teachers. The Purposive random sampling technique was employed to select 11 schools in Ilorin metropolis, 10 teachers were selected from each school using a simple random sampling technique to make 110 as the sample. A structured questionnaire developed by the researcher titled “Enhancing Teachers' Competencies and Entrepreneurial Skills through Information and Communication Technology” (ETCESTICTQ) was validated by two experts from the faculty of education with a reliability coefficient of 0.73. The data collected were analyzed by SPSS version 27 showing the frequency and the percentage of the distribution. The null hypotheses were tested using the Chi-square test at an alpha level of 0.05 level of significance. The questionnaire covered five sections: demographics, ICT usage, entrepreneurial skills, the impact of ICT on these skills, and the perceived relevance of ICT in skill development and increased financial capability. The findings indicate a significant relationship between ICT usage and the development of entrepreneurial skills among teachers. Teachers who engage with ICT are more likely to enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities, underscoring the critical role of technology in modern educational settings. However, the study also reveals that while ICT positively influences entrepreneurial skill development, its role in increasing financial capability through these skills is less pronounced. This suggests that although ICT can enhance entrepreneurial skills, additional factors and support mechanisms are necessary to leverage these skills to increase financial capability effectively. Based on these findings, several recommendations were made: Educational institutions should invest in ICT infrastructure and training programs for teachers to ensure they can fully utilize technology to develop entrepreneurial skills. Teachers should be encouraged to incorporate ICT into their teaching methods to foster innovation and improve student engagement, ultimately enhancing entrepreneurial competencies.