Cloud Computing Tools and the Management of Public Secondary Schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between cloud computing tools and the management of public secondary schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study, addressing the extent of adoption of cloud computing tools, their relationship with record-keeping and communication, and the challenges hindering their adoption. A descriptive survey design was adopted. From a population of 192 principals, vice-principals, senior teachers, and ICT teachers across the 24 public secondary schools in AMAC, 176 respondents completed a structured questionnaire on a four-point Likert scale (response rate = 91.7%, 176 of 192). The sub-scales returned Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients ranging from .81 to .95. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, the Pearson product-moment correlation, and the independent-samples t test. Findings revealed that cloud computing tools were adopted to a moderate extent (M = 2.98) and that respondents affirmed their value for record-keeping (M = 3.46) and communication (M = 3.40). Significant positive relationships were found between adoption and record-keeping (r = .39, p < .001) and between adoption and communication (r = .38, p < .001). Administrators reported significantly lower adoption than teachers (t = -3.03, p = .003), whereas male and female respondents did not differ significantly on perceived challenges (t = 1.23, p = .22). Poor internet connectivity and unreliable electricity were the most pressing challenges. The study concluded that cloud computing tools are positively associated with improved school management and recommended investment in infrastructure and staff training.