ABSTRACT
Poor funding of education in Nigeria have been attributed as one of the major factors that militate the development and achievement of educational goals of tertiary institutions. However, this paper will review the funding of tertiary education in Nigeria with specific reference to university education and highlighted the need for the subject to be treated as a matter of national emergency. Secondly, it looked at the goals of tertiary education in Nigeria, alongside some steps being taken to achieve these goals, with a particular reference to the role which funding plays in the achievement of educational objective.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Higher education all over the world has been generally accepted as a very powerful instrument in the socio-economic and technological advancement of any nation. It occupies a strategic position in the nation’s educational system. This is because; it is the cornerstone for national development.
According to the National Policy on education (2004:36), tertiary education, which is also called higher education “is the education given after secondary education in universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, monotechnics including those institutions offering corresponding courses”.
The goals of tertiary education include:
a. To contribute to national development through high level relevant manpower training.
b. To develop and inculcate proper values for the survival and the society.
c. To develop the intellectual capability of individual to understand and appreciate their local and external environment.
d. To acquire both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals to be self-reliant and useful members of the society?
e. To protect and encourage scholarship and community service.
f. To forge and cement national unity, and
g. To promote national and international understanding and interaction (NPE, 2004).
The above goals leave everyone without any doubt that tertiary institutions are established to give professional training for the production of highly motivated, conscientious and efficient manpower, which is necessary for nation-building.
This can only be achieved if the institutions are financially well position, to cope with the ever-rising cost of higher education delivery.
According to multi-disciplinary journal of research development, volume 8 No.1, July, 2007, the events of the past two decades indicates that tertiary education is in for some financial embarrassment. This stems from the fact that Federal Government, which is the principal actor in the funding of Nigeria education, can no longer cope adequately with the financial demands of the industry.
This malaise started in the early eighties when the global economic recession gave rise to glut in the world market for crude oil, which is Nigeria’s major foreign exchange earner.
The introduction of panic hidden measure called structural adjustment programme (SAP) in July, 1982 could not make any positive changes. This situation adversely affected education as the Federal Government deputized social services which resulted to a systematic derived in funding of the nations educational system.
Consequently Liman (1997), posits that the inadequacy of needed facilities in tertiary institutions will remain for sometime. The expectation is that funds allocation to tertiary institutions will not improve any time soon, as the Federal Government spent 6.45 percent of her total budget on education. It dropped to 5.77 percent in 1990, 4.02 percent in 1991 and 3.40 percent in 1992. It then rose to 9.33 percent in 1994 and for the next four years could not reach the 1994 mark. In 2002, it moved up to 10 percent, 11.5 percent in 2005 and 11 percent in the budget for 2006.
These allocations are far below UNESCO’s bench mark for percentage of the National Budget that should be set apart for education.
But unfortunately, according to Sani (2005) UNESCO recommends that, every nation should make a budgetary allocation of at least 26 percent for education.
But unfortunately, Nigeria’s allocation had always fallen short of this recommendation, not even during the days of oil boom when Nigeria boosted her problem was not money but how to spend it, did our allocation hit 10 percent?
It is even more disheartening to observe that in comparison with other Africa countries, Nigeria’s funding effort of education is less desirable and it’s education priority lower. The average budgeting allocation to education in Sub-Sharan Africa is 21 percent, while Nigeria record is less than 9 percent. This situation has brought with its far-reaching implications on tertiary education.
Statement of the Problem
Many high institutions lacked the basic amenities which will help students in academic progress.
Most laboratories in our higher institutions are not properly equipped which has in turn affected the academic performance of science students.
Salaries of lecturers are not paid as when due which have resulted in frequent strike actions by the lecturers, coupled with poor working condition.
Accommodation is also another major problem facing the Nigerian students. Therefore, this study is designed to explore the effects of poor funding of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Purpose of the Study
1. To find out problems of poor funding of tertiary education in Nigeria.
2. To find out the causes of poor funding of tertiary education in Nigeria.
3. To find out the consequences of poor funding of tertiary education in Nigeria.
4. To find out the effects of poor funding on the academic performance of students in Nigeria.
Significance of the Study
This study/research will be as a guide to the government and other stakeholders in education by providing with them the framework for proper educational management through making adequate and proper funding of Nigeria tertiary education.
Also, the study is intended to correct the issue of poor funding of education in order to achieve a qualitative and equally to improve the academic performance of students through making of proper funding.
Scope of Study
This study is to be carried out in Nigeria tertiary institutions, but will be limited to Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education as it’s case study.
Research Questions
1. How can the economic condition of a country affect the student’s academic performance?
2. What are the challenges facing governments funding of tertiary education?
3. To what extent can funding help to improve students academic performance?
4. What are the benefits students obtain from government funding of educational programmes?