Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the digital competences of the youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in selected rural communities of Anambra state. The study adopted cross sectional design on a target population of all NEET youth in the rural communities of Anambra state whereby multistage sampling was used to select 240 NEET youths aged between 15-29 years from12 ward units in 6 local government areas of the state. A structured questionnaire with sections on the socio-economic factors of the NEET youth, an adapted European Union framework for measuring digital competences and factors of rural communities that influenced level of digital competences of these entities was used to elicit information for the study. The emanating data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, 4-point nominal scale, chi-square, ranking and Cramer's V. The findings of the work about the socio-economic characteristics of the youth were that 65 percent were female, 77.92 percent were still single while 72.5 percent were aged between 22-29 years. Majority (62.50 percent) of these youths' annual income ranged from N0 to N200,000. Digital competences (knowledge, skill and attitude) of these youth in relation to communication and collaboration as well as safety components were found to be high. Statistically, these NEET youth in rural communities showed 50 percent in low competences in the items of composition for information of data literacy,75 percent low competences on digital content creation and problem solving. Age, gender, educational level, income and mental status were found to be significant factors (p
Publication Date: 2024-07-03