DIGITAL COMPETENCE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS OFFERING OFFICE TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME IN OYO STATE-OWNED POLYTECHNICS, NIGERIA

Abstract

In an era where digital skills are increasingly essential for professional success, understanding the impact of digital competence on academic performance is paramount. Despite several studies on the academic performance of students in the Office Technology and Management programme, factors that predict the variable have not been adequately studied. This study, however, aims to investigate the influence of digital competence on the academic performance of the students offering the Office Technology and Management programme int Oyo State-owned Polytechnics, Nigeria. The study employed a Descriptive Survey Design. One hundred and sixty-two (162) participants were selected from the population of 284 using the, 1979 Krejci and Morgan Table, while Proportional Stratified and Random Sampling techniques were used for the selection. A structured Questionnaire was used to collect data consisting of a demographic section as well as an assessment of the most prominent digital resources used for teaching OTM programme, the level of digital competencies of students offering OTM programme, and the implications of these on their academic performance. Two hypotheses were tested using Mean, Standard Deviation and Regression Analysis. The findings revealed that digital competence has a statistically significant positive association with the academic performance of the students offering OTM Programme. The coefficient of 0.039 suggests that an increase in digital competence is associated with higher academic petformance of the student. This is supported by the significant t-value of2.302 at the 0. 05 significance level. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the management and lecturers of the polytechnics should provide adequate access to digital educational resources, and integrate technologies into teaching and learning to develop the digital competencies of the students. Also, student,; should endeavour to maximize the use of the widespread ICTs to promote and enhance their learning and not for frivolity.