Influence of Internet Usage on Academic Performance of College of Education Students: Rhetoric or Reality?

The study examined the influence of internet usage on the academic performance of College of Education students in Ghana as being rhetoric or reality. The study adopted descriptive survey design. All year groups (levels 100-400) of St. Joseph’s College of Education were considered as the main population for the study while stratified random sampling technique was used to select 132 respondents. Researchers’ designed questionnaire was used for data collection where Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25) was used for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that Internet’s influence on the academic performance of the respondents used for the study is a clear-cut reality other than lip service. Internet provides opportunity to acquire special skills; improves their performance during examination; enhances students to study ahead of their teachers; improves students reading competence; promotes their computer skills towards academic activities among others. Nevertheless, few of the respondents reported that Internet usage distracts their attention and prevents them from attending lectures regularly. Based on that, it was recommended that school counselors with the support of the administrators organise enlightenment programmes for students on how to use the internet to improve academic performance. Students in the understudy institution should be encouraged to use the Internet in searching for information that will enhance and improve their academic performance. It is important also to expose the school counselors on training to computer appreciation so that they can give right counselling direction on Internet usage by students regarding their academic activities