FUNDING OF PRIMARY EDUCATION: ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The National policy on education placed much value on primary education as the first phase of education which is the bedrock of all levels of education. This paper investigated the funding of primary education and its implications for primary school education development. The population consisted of all head teachers as administrators A sample of two hundred and seventy head teachers were randomly but purposively selected to allow for equal representation. Questionnaire was the instrument employed in the study. Data was analysed using descriptive statistic of frequency count, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The hypotheses were tested with t.test at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that the sources of funding public primary school education were both governmental and non-governmental sources. It also highlighted the roles played by Local Government Education Authority LGEA in funding primary education. Constraining factors to effective funding of education included low allocation to primary school, corruption in the financial administration of fund among others. The under-funding of primary education has adverse implication for educational development. The local Government Education Authority played a prominent role in the funding of public primary education in their area of Jurisdiction. Therefore it was recommended that there should be true commitment and demonstration of government will power in providing adequate fund for primary school education. Local Government Education Authority should ensure proper accountability and transparency in the management of fund.