POLITICS OF FUNDING OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the politicisation of funding of education in Nigeria. It is an explorative and qualitative study, which involved the use of descriptive statistics for analysis. The study revealed that the challenges befalling the education system is primarily due to politicisation of funding of education. The education sector is yet to witness the appropriate injection of funds that meets UNESCO’s recommended threshold of 26 per cent of the annual budget of the nation. This lack of funding has led to inadequate infrastructure, lack of facilities and the shortage of qualified teachers to support the execution of the educational policies, thereby affecting the quality of education provided to citizens. There is a positive relationship between the improvement of the education system and the social and economic development of Nigeria. The government must see the educational sector as a viable social service that directly affects the economic growth rate of the nation. Given the preceding, government leaders must continually develop and review educational policies, which must be supported by frameworks that ensure the provision of facilities and human resources to execute the tasks embedded within the policy positively. This must also be backed by adequate funding to ensure continuous achievement of the goals and objectives of the educational system.