PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF ISLAMIC ETHICS ON DIGITAL AGE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ILORIN, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Computers (desktop, laptop and tablet), mobile devices (smart phones) and the applications installed on them. are surrounded by students. These technologies and applications are influencing the ways learners think and behave. It is discovered that the students spend more time while using digital tools and most especially on social media. It is further emphasised that during this process, they view pornography, spread information which are against the ethical principles of Islam, engaging in fraudulent acts (cybercrime), intruding on other’s privacy, stalking of individuals and lots of acts which are not in conformity with Islamic ethical principles. It is also believed that they are more willing to create online learning communities and take active roles in these communities which cause a lot of damages. This study assessed Islamic ethics and digital age among secondary school students in Ilorin, Kwara State. Descriptive survey was adopted for this study. Questionnaire was used to collect data from one hundred (100) Islamic Studies students in a senior secondary school in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State. Validation of the instrument was done by three (3) experts in order to ascertain the validity of the questionnaire. A test re-test method was used for the reliability of the questionnaire which showed co-efficient of 0.74. The data collected were analysed using percentage to answer the research question 1. T-test was used to test hypothesis one while t-test statistics was used to test hypothesis one and Analysis of Variance was used to test the second hypothesis. However, the findings revealed that Islamic ethics help in regulating students’ behaviour at this digital age. It was further asserted that lack of Islamic ethics easily makes students to involve in cybercrime at this digital age. It was recommended that Parents should endeavour to enroll their children in Islamic schools right from their childhood, in order to acquire adequate knowledge of Islamic ethics. Also, Government should organize lectures and symposium to enlighten both teachers and students in using digital tools in accordance with Islamic ethics.