ABSTRACT 

The study focused on the “Perceived Influence of Information and Communication Technology on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Social Studies in Umuahia Education Zone”. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Four research questions were posed and two null hypotheses formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study area was Umuahia Education Zone of Abia State. The population of the study consisted of 7,184 JSS II students. A sample of 400 JSS II students were drawn using Yaro Yarmane. Stratified random sampling was used to select schools out of 54 public schools in Umuahia Education Zone while sample random sampling was used to select students on rural and urban. A – 24 item questionnaire titled “Information and Communication Technology Questionnaire” (ICTQ) was developed by the researcher and was used for the study. The instrument was validated by three experts, one from Measurement and Evaluation, one from psychology and Counselling Department and one Department of Adult and Continue and Education (Curriculum Studies) in Michael Okapra University of Agriculture, Umudike. The instrument was rated on 4-point scale of very high extent (3.50 - 500), high extent (2.50 - 3.49), very low extent (1.00 - 1.49) and low extent (1.50 – 2.49). However, 2.50 was accepted as the base line which means that scores below 0.1 – 2.49 were not accepted while scores from 0.50 above were accepted to be influencing academic performance of students in social studies. The reliability of the instrument was established using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Procedure. The instrument yielded a reliability index of 0.86. the data used was collected with the assistance of subject teacher in the schools used. Research question 1 was analyzed using Percentage, research questions 2 – 4 were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation, while the null hypotheses were tested using t-test at 0.05 level of significance. However, the result of the findings of the study is stated below: Majority of ICT equipment are not available for teaching and learning of social studies, the utilization of ICT in the teaching of social studies is of very low extent, the use of ICT influences students academic performance to a high extent, there is a significant difference between the mean ratings of rural and urban students on the utilization of ICT in the teaching of social studies, there is a significant difference between the mean ratings of rural and urban students on the influence of ICT on academic performance of students in social studies. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends among others that teachers should apply the latest ICT technologies to enhance students’ academic performance.