The Impact of Public Policy on the Education Sector in Nigeria A Study of Kogi State, 1992-2011

ABSTRACT

Public policies on education form a framework of the direction governments intend the education sector to take with the view to enhancing the efficiency and productivity of its human resources in order to achieve the nation’s needed development. This is due to the prime place the human capital occupies in coordinating the other factors of production. Therefore, this study sought the impact of public policy on the education sector in Nigeria, with a focus on Kogi state, 1992-2011. The ex-post-facto research design was adopted for carrying out the research work. Three (3) research questions were generated while data were analysed through qualitative descriptive analysis. The study is anchored on the theory of decision making. The theory basically views social context and how it affects policy making with emphasis on political infighting and push and pull of forces inside and outside government. Decision making is the only means towards understanding how government arrived at action. This theory helps to explain the difficulty in making government decisions. The research findings revealed essentially that, Kogi state government has to do a lot in the area of fund and facility provision within the context of the implementation guidelines of the various education programmes in order to meet up with both national and global expectations. The study concluded that public policy on education has not been contributing to the development of the education sector in Kogi state due to lapses in human, materials, money and mind/culture. It was recommended that, Kogi state government needs to strengthen its efforts in the area of facilities provision to the various institutions of learning, special attractive salary should be worked out for teachers at all levels, additional schools should be established to discongest the existing ones and qualified teachers should be employed state wide to reduce the workload of teachers. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page .................................................................................................................... i

Approval page ............................................................................................................. ii

Dedication ................................................................................................................... iii

Acknowledgement ...................................................................................................... iv

Abstract ....................................................................................................................... v

Table of contents .......................................................................................................... vi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study ....................................................................................1

1.2 Statement of the Problem ....................................................................................5

1.3 Objective of the Study ........................................................................................7

1.4 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................7

1.5 Literature Review ................................................................................................8

1.5.1 Policy ...............................................................................................................8

1.5.2 Education .........................................................................................................13

1.6 Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................17

1.7 Research Hypotheses ..........................................................................................20

1.8 Method of Data Collection ..................................................................................20

1.8.1 Method of Data Analysis .....................................................................21

1.8.2 Research Design .................................................................21

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Historical Overview of Public Policy on Education in Nigeria ......................25

2.1 The Colonial Era ...................................................................25

2.2 Civilian Era ......................................................................27

2.3 Military Era .......................................................................30

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Public Policy on Education and Education Planning in Kogi State ............................................32

3.1 Historical Background of Kogi State ..................................................................32

3.2 Public Policy and Education Planning in Kogi State ..........................................34

3.2.1 6 3 3 4 System of Education ………………………… 34

3.2.2 Universal Basic Education (UBE) Scheme ...................................................... 37

3.2.3 Tertiary Education Policy ................................................................................40

3.2.4 Deboarding Policy ...........................................................................................42

3.2.5 Admission Policy ..............................................................................42

3.2.6 Employment Policy ........................................................................................... 43

3.3 The Role of Teachers in Education Sector Development in Kogi State ...............................................................................44

3.3.1 Education and Training ....................................................................................44

3.3.2 Professional Conduct .......................................................................................44

3.3.3 Commitment to the Profession .........................................................................45

3.3.4 The Professional Culture in Education ............................................................45

3.3.5 Strikes/Unrests .................................................................................................46

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 The Challenges of Education Policy Implementation in Kogi State .....................................................................................................47

4.1 Lack of Political Will ..........................................................................................47

4.2 Corruption ........................................................................................................... 47

4.3 Under Funding ....................................................................................................49

4.4 School Location ...............................................................................................55

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary ..............................................................................................................59

5.2 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................60

5.3 Recommendations ...............................................................................................60

Bibliography ..............................................................................................................63