Assessment of Cryptography Understanding Among ICT Students at Polytechnics in Edo State

Cryptography is foundational to information security, and assessing the depth of cryptographic understanding among ICT students at Edo State polytechnics identifies training gaps relevant to developing a competent South South cybersecurity technical workforce. This study assessed cryptography knowledge and understanding among final-year ICT and Computer Engineering students at Auchi Polytechnic and Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Edo State, South South Nigeria. A structured knowledge assessment of 30 items covered symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, digital signatures, PKI, and practical application scenarios. Three hundred students (150 per institution) participated. Results showed a mean score of 49.4 out of 100, indicating moderate cryptographic knowledge. Symmetric encryption basics were best understood (mean 64.2) while public key infrastructure was least understood (mean 36.8). Only 41.3 percent could correctly explain the difference between encryption and hashing. Digital signature verification was correctly described by 33.7 percent. Auchi Polytechnic students scored marginally higher overall (mean 51.6 versus 47.2, p < 0.05). Only 28.7 percent had applied cryptographic tools in any academic practical. The study concludes that cryptography knowledge among Edo State polytechnic ICT students is below the professional standard required for information security roles and recommends a revised cryptography module with stronger practical components, industry-standard tool familiarisation (OpenSSL, GnuPG), and laboratory-based assessments at both institutions. Keywords: cryptography knowledge, ICT students, polytechnics, Edo State, information security education