English abstract
This study aims to identify the extent of using the computer in administration and the obstacles that prevent using it in the secondary schools from the principals and their deputies point of view, and identifying the impact of the following variables : Educational region, the job position , gender, scientific qualification, years of experience in administration, years of experience in using computers, training courses , the daily use of computers, the period of time in which the computers have been used in school, and possessing a personal computer
In order to achieve the aims of this study, the educational literature has been analyzed and a questionnaire consisting of 106 items has been constructed. The validity and the reliability of this questionnaire have been ascertained. The items of the questionnaire were categorized into five areas of using computers in school administration. i.e. ( Students affairs, school regulations, computer software, school utilities , personnel affairs), and another three items regarding the obstacles of the technical obstacles, and obstacles regarding the school organization). The study sample consisted of principals and deputies from both sexes and from the eleven educational regions: Muscat, Dhofar, AlBatinah North, AlBatinah South, AlSharqeia South , Al Thahera North , AIThahera South, AlDakhelia, Musanadam and Al Wustta. The Statistical data have been statistically treated by using frequencies, means, standard deviations, relative importance, t-test, and One Way Analysis of Variance. The most important results which have been found from this study were:
1. The average ratings given by principals and their deputies for the five areas of computer usage ranged between "often" and "sometimes ". The computer was ams, school utilities, and school organizational aspects.
2 .The principals and the deputies ratings concerning the three areas of obstacles of OHC obstacles regarding the financial , technical and the organizational aspects scored high ratings which means they cause significant restraints, whereas, those regarding the workers personality scored moderate rating.
3.There are statistically significant differences between the average ratings of respondents for the three areas of obstacles of using computers which are attributed to the variable of educational region. But in the variable of experience, significant differences were only found in the two areas of staff personality and organizational aspects.
4 .There are no statistically significant differences in the average ratings of the respondents in all the three areas of the obstacles of using computers which can be attributed to the experience, training courses, and period of computer use in the school. In the light of the educational literature and the results of the field study, a number of suggestions has been presented:
1.Allocating an annual budget for each school bearing in mind the school circumstances and the number of students.
2. Encouraging organizing private exhibitions of computers where companies provide good and encouraging offers for the administrators in order to arouse their interest to own their own computers.
3 .Providing adequate and good computer software programs that are compatible with the school computers or by developing such programs locally if possible after training specialized personnel in this field
4. Maintaining and preserving the school building in order to achieve the objectives of using computers and the needs of the administrators and the faculty as well.
5 .Developing awareness of the importance and the advantages of using computers in decision making and in the administrative process in coordination with the Ministry of Education. This can be done by preparing plans where seminars, lectures and training courses for the administrative leaders are conducted.
6 .Giving the local training courses conducted by the directorates more attention and using the easiest methods to explain computer skills avoiding complicated methods as far as possible in order not to generate the trainees reluctance and preventing them from acquiring these skills as a result. In addition to that there must be more in service training courses for the administrators especially for those who are not qualified enough in computers.
