Structural Eguation Modeling and their Application in Educational Research - Case Study of ICT Usage in Primary Schools in South - East Region in Macedonia

A research was conducted in order to ensure valid and reliable assessment of the extent of ICT knowledge and skills of teachers in primary schools, to identify the factors in terms of teachers affecting the development of ICT competences, and to identify strategies to improve the development of effectiveness in the future. The research surveyed 214 teachers from 10 primary schools in the Southeast region of Macedonia . The Technique Modeling with Structural Equations was used to determine the relative strength of influence of factors on ICT competencies of teachers and the relative strength of the factors affecting the frequency of use of ICT in teaching. The results show that 25% of the teachers have below basic ICT Competency, 17% of teachers have basic knowledge and skills to operate a computer, and the highest percentage, 58% of teachers with proficient ICT competence. The highest percentage of 58.4 % of the teachers often use ICT in teaching, 33.6 % rarely use ICT, 7 % of respondents use ICT at all times, and only 0.9 % do not use ICT for teaching purposes. The survey results were analyzed using SPSS 19, Excel and Amos Graphics 18.