In recent decades, education systems have participated in the sweeping changes brought about by the global dissemination of new information and communications technologies (icts). The exponential growth of information that is available anywhere to anybody and the ability to access and share this information regardless of the user’s physical location have transformed the way in which people work, organize, socialize, create, participate in public forums and use their free time.

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Incorporating ICTs has become a very important priority in the education sector. These technologies can contribute to universal access to education, equality in instruction, quality in teaching and learning and the professional development of teachers, as well as to more efficient management and administration of education systems

ICT

Information Communication Technology (ICT) will mean all electronic system that has to do with information gathering, processing and disseminations. These include all forms of computer system (mainframe, mini, micropalm pilot etc.). Information technology is a technique and the equipment that facilitates the acquisition, recording, processing, storing, retrieval, transmitting and receiving information that has been processed using some electronic equipment and appropriate methods. Information Communication can be seen as the scientific, technological engineering and management techniques used in information handling and processing.
The term Information Communication Technology originated from the coming together of three (3) technologies (micro electronics, computer and communications). Microelectronics are made from the reduction of electronic circuits on sting silicon chips so as to receive a small raw data and organize it into meaningful information. Computers are the major platform upon which Information Communication Technology stands on communication. The processes of telecommunication using telephone and telegraphic lines to send messages from one place to another, is the third aspect of Information Communication Technology. Computer is an electronic machine or a set of machines which accepts raw data presented to it in a specific format carries out some operations on the data and produces results in a specific format as information for:
i. Human decision making
ii. Signal to control some other machines or processes
iii. Further input into some other machines
A computer is any machine or device, under the control of a stored program, can accept data in a prescribed form, process the data and supply the results as information in a specific form. Computer comes from the word compute meaning calculate. It could be seen as a machine that performs arithmetic and logical operation quickly. They can store and process information and data and then made available to the users efficiently. With the general purpose of software, computer is no longer the domain of mathematicians, engineers and scientist. The name computer was later changed from computer to Information Technology (IT). Information technology is concerned with the handling and processing of information using electronic devices. It creates opportunity to handle, text and images, numbers and graphs, instruction, sound and music and to process information by organizing, storing and retrieving, sorting and analyzing, presenting and communicating. Computer can also be seen as an electronic machine operating under the control of instructions stored in its own memory that can accept data (input) manipulate the data according to specified rules (process) produce results (output), and store the results future use.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Achievement can be defined in various ways according to what actually the researcher wants to use it for. It is the ability, talent, expertise, capability, proficiency and skills for particular class performance, specific subject performance, overall performance, grades, marks, GPA, percentage etc. “Academic achievement” is hypothesized as learning proficiency and expertise and is defined as person’s comprehensive performance in education and to trust in own capabilities.
Academic self-concept may be defined as an individual’s estimation of his/her educational areas and fields or talents. More positive self-beliefs are associated with academic achievements in schools.
In Nigerian student’s academic self-concept has a strong positive relationship with their academic achievements. Furthermore, positive self-concept predicts academic achievements in school students.
Academic self-concept (ASC) fluctuates as school children move towards higher grades and class levels and it usually apt to grow in the same path of their educational attainment. However, others concluded that spell the abbreviation first (ASC) inclines to move in the contrasting way as someone moves upward in grades/class level.

ICT AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF EDUCATION STUDENTS

ICT can provide a considerable benefit in supporting learning for education students. By using technology in their learning, the students can be active learners. They will be aware of what information they need, why they need it, and how they can get that information. An active learning allows the students to decide when they require particular information and whether they have already understood that information or not. This active learning also implies an independent learning. By having access to internet in their school the students will not totally depend on the teachers. They can explore information available in the internet, find information that they need, copy it, and go on to find more and more information. By using this learning system, the education students also becomes self-managed in their learning process. Self-managed learning allows the students to be self-motivated and self-directed learners who will be able to readily, efficiently, and quickly respond to the quick change of information. The use of blog, for instance, can allow the educators and students to be very up-to-date to the issues and discussion in educational sector or other sectors. Thus, we do not have to wait the newest revision of printed educational books or journal to know what happens in our educational sector for longer time. ICT also can provide a way for dynamic and collaborative learning. By using internet our learning is not limited to the school hours, demographically where we are, and who our teachers are. We can access internet anytime and anywhere e-learning allows the students to get information faster from everywhere and anytime. Technology also enables us to cross the demography limits. Rural students can access information from urban areas, get information and share knowledge with other students or teachers in the same area or even different countries. Besides dynamic learning, ICT allows all the human components of schools; the principals, administrators, teachers, IT coordinators, and the students to get involved in the collaborative learning and forming learning communities.
ICT can improve children’s literacy. The effective use of ICT can upgrade the education students’ literacy and numeracy. Microsoft word, for instance, can motivate the children to learn writing skill. They can enjoy and being excited typing many new words using computer. It also can improve the children’s speaking and listening skills. This is because they may work collaboratively with their peers, teachers, and parents/adults. Those children need to hear what others say to them and tell what they want to know. The children also can develop their reading skills by reading stories accessed through internet. Thus, ICT plays an important role in scaffolding process to improve children’s literacy.