Integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in educational settings has become fundamental to modern pedagogy. Despite its significant contributions, ICT’s adoption, integration, and usability pose challenges for school students in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to identify and analyze the diverse factors influencing the widespread adoption of ICT among students. A comprehensive systematic literature review revealed 38 factors from 84 articles that either facilitate or hinder ICT integration in students’ academic activities. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) a statistical method known for reducing dimensionality and uncovering patterns in complex datasets. The study extracts the most critical factors impacting ICT adoption. The findings indicate that in addition to over-digitalization, cognitive barriers, health issues, time constraints, funding limitations, and a lack of modern software are significant factors affecting students’ engagement with technology. The implications of this study are relevant to policymakers, educators, and academic institutions, providing a data-driven basis for strategies aimed at improving ICT adoption.