The Impact of Internet Usage on Students’ Success in Selected Senior High Schools in Cape Coast metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

This Study explored the usage of the internet and its impact on the academic performance of Senior High School (SHS) students in the Cape Coast Metropolis. A questionnaire was used to gather data from 105 second-and third-year students through random sampling and was then analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent samples t-test. The result revealed that Internet outlets for SHS students include school ICT labs, mobile phones, internet facilities for families, and public internet cafes. Furthermore, internet access influences academic standards among students, as those with internet access have shown a higher improvement in academic performance than those without. Different internet use, on the other hand, has no impact on academic performance, as revealed by the results. Similarly, the presence of several sources of internet connectivity does not guarantee immediate access to all of them. Therefore, it was recommended that the Heads of Institutions should liaise with other stakeholders to provide internet facilities with management support. It was also recommended that to support student research, the School ICT Laboratories should be well equipped with internet facilities and students should be taught how to use search engines to search online for academic materials. This is vital because the provision of school internet facilities plays a very important role in enhancing academic performance.