Effect of Students’ Competence in Using ICT Tools on the Implementation of the O’ Level ICT Curriculum in Government Secondary Schools in Mbale District, Uganda

The study established the relationship between students’ competence in using ICT tools and implementation of the O’ Level ICT curriculum in government-aided secondary schools in Mable District. The study used a survey study design whereby 192 students were interviewed. Data analysis was done descriptively using SPSS Version 22.0 and findings indicate a significant positive correlation between students’ competence in the use of ICT tools and implementation of the ICT curriculum (r-727, N=192, p=0.0000.05). The study concludes that majority of the students were not having basic ICT tool use knowledge and skills due to a number of challenges that ranged from lack of technical support, limited enough access to ICT tools, poor ICT tool maintenance, lack of enough time to practice ICT skills, lack of administrative support, poor internet connectivity inadequate ICT soft wares, outdated ICT tools, teachers lacking enough ICT skills, negative students’ attitude towards learning ICT, teachers’ lack enough ICT skills, to teachers having a negative attitude towards teaching ICT. The study recommends an increase in ICT resources to boost student competencies in using ICT tools.