The study examined the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) student access in primary school on their academic performance in tertiary institutions in South Africa. The purpose was to identify the implications of limited ICT access and the subsequent challenges encountered by students in higher education institutions so as to propose, solutions to challenges to access and thereby improve ICT access in schools. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire from a sample of fifty first-year students enrolled in a Higher Certificate in Education (HCE1) program and eleven lecturers from two private universities in South Africa offering educational programmes. Findings indicate that students struggling with ICT tools in tertiary institutions had inadequate access to ICT during their schooling years, negatively affecting their academic performance while those who had access in early primary school performed better. The study reveals a disparity in ICT competence among students, with some possessing basic skills for academic tasks while others lack such skills. The study recommends that the Department of Education should ensure adequate funding and budgeting for ICT resources in schools and that tertiary institutions should provide ICT courses and effective training to meet students’ expectations.