AN EXAMINATION OF ADEQUATE FUNDING AND ITS IMPORTANCE ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Education is the foundation of any country’s genuine social, political, and economic development. Since the implementation of the national education policy in 1981, there have been several changes and improvements in the school system. Sadly, despite these changes and ongoing massive investments by multiple administrations, Nigerian education has failed to pull the country out of a quagmire of technological underdevelopment, political insecurity, and social decadence. According to Adedapo Olayiwola, Saheed, and Abdulraman (2017), most of these changes and innovations are inadequately implemented due to a lack of funds. According to the Online Business Dictionary, providing financial resources to address a demand, initiative, or program (2013). Money can be raised for a school project or program from both within and outside the school. When

When funds are raised, they are typically allocated based on the needs of the school. Funding is the process of transferring funds from one unit to another, whether in the short or long term.

The government is a major supporter of education in the majority of countries around the world. According to Hall (2013), one of the primary functions of the government is to subsidize public schools. This is accomplished by developing a yearly budget to meet the needs of various economic sectors, including education. As a result, the government plays a significant role in subsidized education through annual financial allocations. As a result, the level of performance in Nigeria’s educational sector has been inextricably linked to the availability of resources. Funding has long been regarded as an essential tool.

Among the resources required for the successful management of the educational sector. This is because money is required for the management and administration of most aspects of the economy, including education. Based on this, UNESCO recommended allocating 26% of a country’s annual budget to educational administration and management (Odia & Omofonmwan, 2007). This is due to the fact that a financing strategy like this will help provide the fundamental resources required for teaching and learning in terms of both quality and quantity.

Over time, governments in many countries have made efforts to increase the amount of money available for secondary education administration, and Nigeria is no exception. According to Abdulkareem (2003), decades after many educational programs such as UPE were established,

and UBE, Nigeria’s educational sector remains plagued by poor performance at all levels. One of the primary reasons for this is a lack of funding, clear institutions, and solutions to the problem.

According to Hall, insufficient education funding in Nigeria resulted in widespread examples of unpaid teacher wages, non-existent, outdated, or woefully inadequate school facilities and equipment from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s (2013). This makes effective educational system management a Herculean task, and when the situation becomes intolerable, either the teachers or the students, or both, revolt, resulting in demonstrations, strike actions, frequent and often prolonged institution closures, and a decline in educational quality. As a result, funding for optional secondary education is required for effective national development.

In Nigeria.

1.2 Problem identification

The amount of funding available has a significant impact on the quantity and quality of educational goals that a country will achieve. This is because money is essential in acquiring the fundamental human, financial, and material resources required to turn the school’s goals into reality. According to (Atolabge, 2011), a lack of funding may limit, if not completely jeopardize, the secondary level of education’s goals from being realized. Such funds must also be used correctly in order to achieve and sustain secondary education’s long-term goals.

Notably, the issues confronting Nigeria’s education sector in general, and its funding in particular, can be traced back to policy.and strategy instability and inconsistency, inefficient management, waste, and leakages caused by overarching macroeconomic conditions that have determined the sector’s fate. The responsibility of financing education has been met with strenuous challenges on the part of the government, ranging from methods of disbursing funds in our educational system, corrupt practices by stakeholders, a lack of manpower, poor management and accountability, and the fact that the resources available within the limits of society in terms of funds to meet this ever-increasing demand are grossly inadequate and frequently unavailable. Furthermore, Odia et al. (2007) claimed that increased school enrollment has put strain on school facilities. Classes are too small, and the teacher-student ratio is uncomfortably high, particularly in most metropolitan schools.

Facilities are in a terrible state and are virtually uninhabitable for students; therefore, proper secondary education funding is required. Funding is linked to the provision of excellent education delivery, and the grade of education provided to the population is heavily influenced by the availability of funds. This implies that funding is the engine of the education sector, and its availability or lack thereof determines the outcomes of the education sector at this level. Thus, this study seeks to investigate adequate funding and its significance in secondary education administration in Nigeria.

1.3 Purpose of the research

The study’s overarching goal is to investigate adequate funding and its significance in the administration of

Nigerian secondary education. In particular, the research

1. To investigate the issues associated with inadequate secondary education funding.

2. To identify the causes of insufficient education funding in Kwara state.

3. Determine the significance of adequate funding for secondary education administration.

1.4 Research Suggestions

1. What are the challenges of insufficient secondary education funding?

2. What are the causes of insufficient secondary education funding?

3. What is the significance of adequate funding in secondary education administration?

1.5 Importance of the research

The study’s findings will be useful to the government, stakeholders, and other researchers. The study will help the government understand how to deal with education funding challenges and will enlighten them on the importance of recognizing

Basic education (primary and secondary education) is recognized as a public good, and the responsibility of providing free education to all citizens is accepted. Furthermore, the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and serve as a resource for students and other academics in related fields of study.

1.6 The scope of the research

The purpose of this research is to look into adequate funding and its impact on secondary education administration in Nigeria. It will investigate the issues raised by insufficient secondary education funding. It will investigate the causes of insufficient secondary education funding. It will demonstrate the significance of adequate funding for secondary education administration. However, the study is limited to a few local governments in Plateau State.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

The researchers encountered minor constraints while conducting the study, as with any human endeavor. The significant constraint was the scarcity of literature on the subject due to the nature of the discourse, so the researcher incurred more financial expenses and spent more time sourcing for relevant materials, literature, or information and collecting data, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited sample size. Furthermore, the researcher will conduct this study alongside other academic work. Furthermore, the sample size was limited because only a few respondents were chosen to answer the research instrument, so the results cannot be generalized to other secondary schools. Nonetheless, despite the research constraints, all factors were considered.

downplayed in order to provide the best possible service and ensure the success of the research.

1.8 Definitions of terms

Education: The process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, morals, beliefs, and habits, is known as education.

Financing Education: Financing education entails sourcing and providing funds to run school programs, as well as ensuring the funds’ optimal distribution and utilization to achieve educational goals.

Secondary education refers to the schooling provided following primary school and prior to higher, optional education.

 

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