THE INFLUENCE OF FUNDING ON THE PROVISION OF SCHOOL FACILITIES IN IDEMILI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the influence of funding on the provision of school facilities in Idemili Local Government Area, Anambra State. Four research questions and four hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of 18 government-owned secondary schools in the studied areas. A sample of 72 respondents (principals and vice-principals) was included in the study using the census population technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. A reliability coefficient of 0.67 was obtained using the Cronbach alpha statistics. Analysis of data was carried out using descriptive (frequency count and simple percentage) and inferential statistics (mean, standard deviation, Analysis of Variance, linear regression). Results showed that funding improved provision of facilities, extent of disbursement of funds was low; there is high extent of transparency in the funds allocated for facilities in schools and the extent to which school management controls fund was high. Extent to which funding has improved school facilities, disbursement of funds, transparency of funds and control of funds were not statistically associated with school type (p >0.05). School type accounted for 14%, 0.9%, 1.6% and 5.7% variance in extent to which funding has improved facilities, disbursement of fund, transparency of funds and control of funds respectively. The study recommended that government should as a matter of urgency increase funding so as to enhance improvement in laboratory equipment, agricultural farms and gardens, school administrators should as a matter of necessity endevour to audit funds income and expenditure so as to improve transparency in financial dealings of the school.