CHALLENGES OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY: EVALUATION FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHER EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

The teaching-learning process constitute major input in the accomplishment of educational goals and objectives in all nations. In Nigeria, teacher education has been confronted with a lot ofchallenges in the modem day of imparting knowledge in the teaching and learning process. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a significant role in teacher education. Hence, the objective of this paper was to discuss the potentials of ICT as well as its challenges in teacher education. The challenges which include high exorbitant price of Information and Communication Technology facilities, lack of infrastructures in the areas of electricity supply, inadequate trained manpower for the development, maintenance and operation of Information and Communication Technologyfacilities, inadequate commitment on the part of government towards the development of Information and Communication Technology, inadequate funding of internet connectivity and lukewarm attitude of many teachers to be computer literate among others. This paper proffers some possible ways of improving Information and Communication Technology in teacher education in Nigeria such as: making ICT facilities affordable for teachers at subsidized rates by the government, it should be made compulsory at all levels of education and the ICTprofessionals should be encouraged through good remuneration based on improved salaries and conditions of service. Therefore, the authors concluded that the ICT should always be seen as a tool for teachers to use and not as a substitution for teachers.