EVALUATION OF NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN FUNDING OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KANAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Financing formal public education in Nigeria has become an issue of public concern as a result of the present economic down turn and worldwide inflation. According to Central Bank of Nigeria (2013), poor financing has been the bane of Nigerian education system to the extent that the budgetary allocation has been very low. Furthermore, the federal government allocation to education has declined steadily since 1999 and is much lower than average in the last five years. This is particularly important in view of huge increase in number of intake at all levels of education primary, secondary and tertiary. Onyedineke(2011) observed that one of the approaches government adopts in financing education in Nigeria is the annual budgetary allocation to the sector that are distributed as subvention or grants to the different levels of education the grants or subventions are made through respective education ministry of government by the coordinating agencies of education such as the National University Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NABTEB), Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) and Universal Basic Education Commission. In addition, laboratories and equipment are grossly inadequate and the attendant problems in terms of quality of education usually tell on the products (Onyedineke, 2011).

The rapid changes in the education sector since independence, depicts a state of chaos in the sector. The result is that numerous problems are easily discernible in the sector including the following:

1. Poor infrastructural facilities in schools at all levels.
2. Poor number and quality of teachers particularly at primary and secondary level
3. Poor quality products (graduate) from schools at all levels.
4. Loss of confidence by the general public in the sector.

Most of these problems arose from inadequate funding of the sector (Nwagwu, 2002). Fashina (2005) observe that in 1994, the funding formular was revised by the government so that the state would share 50% equally, thus educationally disadvantaged states 25%, pupil enrolment 25% and population of the states 10%.

In the same vein, Okunamiri (2007) observed that, at independence, government funding of formal education increased tremendously especially in the seventies following the increase in revenue from federation account due to the oil boom which made it possible for the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) nationwide, in September 1976. Within same period, students in tertiary institutions enjoyed free tuition, scholarship loan and bursaries. The country began to set for herself priorities and these priorities were pursued and financed towards the actualization of objectives of education in national development. All these efforts were geared towards actualizing the federal government’s policy as spelt out in the national policy on Education, that government ultimate objectives is to make education free at all levels, that the financing of education is a joint responsibility of the federal, state and local governments and that in this connection, government welcomes and encourages private agencies in helping to finance education.

Indeed, the policy highlighted the role of the three, tiers of government in the financing of education, such as provision of fund for the building of classroom block, laboratory equipment, payment of teachers salary by the tiers under which the institutions belongs to. But the government has failed to involve private and non-governmental organizations in funding education in Nigeria, especially now that present economic down turn, arising from the global economic recession could no longer permit government to fully meet its financial obligation to education sector. If formal education must achieve its laudable goals and objectives as entrenched in the National Policy on Education, its priorities such as funding by the government and participation by the private sector have to be addressed.

Evaluation of the role of non-governmental organizations towards funding is an attempt to assess the extent to which non-governmental organizations existing in the communities meet up with their funding obligations to public secondary schools, putting into consideration certain bench marks for non-governmental organizations participations in the financing of public secondary schools in the area in which they exist.

According to corporate affairs commission report (2008) in order to promote school, community relationship, private organizations existing in the communities should directly or indirectly participate in the funding of public schools in the area in which they exist. Therefore, the following forms the bench mark for evaluation of non-governmental organization participation in the funding of public secondary schools.

1. Donations for the development of school plants
2. Donations for award of scholarship
3. Provision for endowment fund.
4. Staff welfare and development
5. Provision of funds for purchase of stationeries.

The apathy of the non governmental organizations that is those organization that exist in the communities which are not owned by the government such as Christian Association of Nigeria, Rotary Club International, Development Association, like town union, Alumni Association and market women Associations in educational financing in Nigeria and which has put the major thrust of provision of formal education on government has been confirmed by Jaiyeoba and Atanada (2004) and Okunamiri (2007). These researchers observed that poor funding of schools and inadequate provision of resources to cope with the ever-increasing demand for educational provision have led to inadequate provision of facilities for effective teaching and learning and thus hinders achievement of educational objectives.

Statement of the Problem

Funding of formal education in Nigeria has been a topical issue due to the present bleak in economy arising from the global inflationary trend and economic down turn. Inspite of the efforts of the different governments of the federation to provide funds for education, educational institutions still lack the necessary funds to implement various programmes. The problem of this study emanated from various inadequacies associated with the Nigerian educational system, inadequacies in terms of teaching and learning facilities, school plants, non-payment of teachers’ salaries, modern technologies, unconducive learning environment. This thus, arouses the interest of the researcher to evaluate the extent to which non-governmental organization such as alumni associations, Christian association of Nigerian, town union and market women association funds secondary schools. Therefore, the problem of this study is to evaluate the extent to which non-government organizations contributes towards funding public secondary schools in Kanam Local government Area.

Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the extent which non-governmental organizations contribute in funding secondary schools inKanam Local Government Area. Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. Find out the extent to which community development Associations fund publicsecondary schools.
2. Find out the extent to which clubs fund public secondary schools.
3. Evaluate the extent to which Christian Association of Nigeria funds public secondary schools.
4. Determine the extent to which Alumni Associations funds secondary schools.
5. Find out the extent market woman Associations fund secondary schools.

Research Questions

            The study was guided by the following research questions:

1. To what extent has community development Associations contributed to the funding of public secondary schools?
2. To what extent do clubs contribute to funding of public secondary schools?
3. To what extent to which have Islamic Association of Nigeria and Christian Association of Nigeria contributed to the funding of public secondary schools?
4. To what extent has Alumni Associations contributed to the funding ofpublic secondary schools?
5. TO what extent has market woman Associations contributed to the funding of public secondary schools?

Significance of the Study

The benefits of this study are many. Specifically, students, parents, school principals and researchers. This study will be of benefit to students because, they are the direct beneficiaries of what goes on in the schools. Therefore, evaluating the extent to which non governmental organizations funds public schools will show a clear picture of the financial state of secondary schools. It will spur suggestions on how to deal with the various inadequacies associated with the school system. Another group that will benefit from this study are parents. This is because these group of people have their children in schools where various inadequacies have been limiting effective teaching and learning. Therefore, if their children will benefit from this study as students, indirectly their parents would also benefit from this study.

The findings of the study will be of immense benefit to various tiers of government such as local, state and federal government to whom the burden of educational funding seems to have left with. This study will show a clear picture on the extent to which non-governmental organizations fund secondary schools thereby serving as an appraisal report to the government. The findings of the study will be of immense benefit to school principals who have been the victims of inadequacies of resources needed for effective execution of educational programmes, since this study aims at appraising the extent to which non-governmental organizations funds educational institutions. Probably, suggestions on how to improve private sector participation in funding may be arrived at thereby enabling school principals to have enough resources to execute educational programmes in schools. Lastly, the result of this study will be of importance to future researchers who may wish to carryout studies relating to the problem under study.

Scope of the Study

This study covers evaluation of Non-Governmental Organisations in funding of public secondary schools. The study is restricted to four districts in Kanam Local government Area of Plateau State involving all the principals and executives of non-governmental organizations existing in the districts. These districts are: Dengi, Kanam, Garga and Kantana.