ABSTRACT
Lagos is documented as a centre of spontaneous development
of private schooling targeting families from the ultra-rich, to the relatively
poor. There is much debate in the literature on the potential of private
secondary education as part of a solution for achieving Education for All, in
terms of equity in access to these schools, and also their quality and other
aspects. This research work examined Private ownership and educational management: issues and
challenges with special reference to Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos
State. In doing this, the research discussed the structure of ownership of
schools (Public and Private) in Nigeria and examined the reasons that could
have brought private practitioners on board of the educational ladder of the
country. The research further examined the common features that characterize
Nigerian public schools such as low carrying capacity, dearth of
infrastructures among others.
The research adopted descriptive research design
method and simple random sampling technique was used in the selection of
samples. Fifty (50) samples were drawn from twelve
thousand and ninety-eight (12,098) private schools in Lagos. Data were
garnered with the use of questionnaire and interviews administered to the
schools and Ministry of Education, Lagos state, also to Education District 1
which covers Alimosho Local Government. Data gathered were presented on tables
and analysed with the use of percentage, graph and charts.
As commendable as the efforts of private secondary
schools in Lagos are in promoting learning, some challenges such as funding,
unqualified teachers as well as aiding and abetting examination fraud were
identified and discussed.
Recommendations as to funding and managing private
secondary schools to standard were proffered.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
Background to the
Study
Statement of Problem
Purpose
of the Study
Research
Questions
Significance
of the Research
Scope of Study
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO:
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
History of Private Ownership in Educational Administration
in Nigeria
Theoretical Framework
Public and Private
Provision of Education in Nigeria
Growth of Private Schools
Reasons for Private Establishment of Schools in
Nigeria
State Of Public Schools
in Nigeria
The Intervention of
Private Schools
Educational Management and Private Ownership
in Nigeria
Issues That Need To Be Addressed To Improve the
Performance of Private
Schools in Nigeria
Way Forward
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
Research Design
Population Study
Sample and Sampling Technique
Research Instrument
Validity
Reliability
Procedures for Data Collection
Analysis of Data
CHAPTER
FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Introduction
Response of Proprietors/Proprietresses to the Research
Questionnaire
Response of Proprietors/Proprietresses to the
Interview Questions.
Interview Questions Administered To Ministry
Of Education [MOE]
Interview Questions Administered To
Educational District 1
Response to Research Questions
Discussion of Result
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendations
REFERENCES
APPENDIX I: Research
Questionnaire Cover Letter
APPENDIX II: Research
Questionnaire
APPENDIX III: Interview
Questions on Management Issues
APPENDIX IV: Interview Questions on Private School Management Issues
Directed
To Ministry Of Education [MOE]
APPENDIX IV: Interview Questions on Private School Management
Issues: Directed To Education
District 1
LIST OF
FIGURES
Figure 1: Systems
Theory
Figure 2: Model
of a Quality System of Secondary Education
Figure
3. Percentage share of total state
enrolments by level and sector
Figure 4. Total
enrolment per primary class level (and pre-primary level) by sector
Figure 5: Lagos
State Distribution of schools by levels offered and LGA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE
STUDY
The
Management and administration of the Nigeria Educational system is by law
vested concurrently in the hands of the Federal, State and Local Government.
Whereas the Federal and State Governments carry out their responsibility and duties
on education through the respective ministries of Education which according to
Ajayi and Oni (1992) essentially render administrative and professional
services, the Local Government administers elementary education under its jurisdiction
through Local Governments Education Authority. The contribution of the three
tiers of governments is equally complemented by the efforts of the private
entrepreneurs and professional associations such as the Parents Teachers Association
(PTA), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and corporate agencies, among others.
In addition, there have been commendable efforts of philanthropists and
community members who are committed to reviving education service delivery in Nigeria.
The
great public benefits of education have historically prompted governments to
assume the primary role in managing and funding schools. Recently, a growing interest
in improving school quality and student outcomes, and a quest for greater
school choice for parents and students, and for more creativity and innovation
in the schools, themselves, have challenged the notion of government’s primacy
in education ((Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)),
2006; Brewer and Hentschke, 2009). This trend, emerging in a number of
countries, is based on the belief that the public interest in education can be
better served by also involving private entities, including parents,
non-governmental organisations and enterprises, in addition to government
agencies, in managing and funding schools.
Advocates
of private schools argue that private involvement in school management leads to
more efficiency and responsiveness to parents’ demands. Principals in these
schools have more autonomy to manage than public school principals do, although
the extent of school autonomy varies across countries. Privately managed
schools may have the authority to hire and compensate teachers and staff, and
thus can select better-prepared teachers and introduce incentives for
performance. Privately managed schools may also have more discretion on
curricula and instructional methods, and so can adapt them to the interests and
abilities of their students. In addition, privately managed school shave
greater incentives to reduce costs and may be subject to more flexible
regulations. The need to attract students means that privately managed schools
must be more sensitive to parents’ demands concerning curricula, teaching methods,
facilities and discipline, and more responsive to students’ needs.
Advocates
also argue that the existence of private schools creates a useful competition
that can improve the productive efficiency of public schools, as well, and
benefit the entire system. The families, non-profit organisations or
enterprises that fund private schools are more likely to demand better student
outcomes and hold the school accountable. Parents of children in public schools
– and staff in these schools – may then begin comparing the quality of
education available in other schools and start demanding higher standards too.
Advocates also point out that more funding from families and private
institutions would ease governments’ obligation to invest in education.
This
research project tends to examine the Issues and Challenges of Private
Ownership and educational management with special reference to Lagos State.
STATEMENT
OF PROBLEM
Over
the years, public schools in Nigeria have not been given concern, this is
ascribed to the population increase or the inability of government to provide
more schools and facilities to meet its population needs or due to high level
of corruption in the country. This neglect in the educational system, has left
Nigeria with poor quality public education, weak management of education,
inadequate implementation of policies, and poor tracking and monitoring of
education budgets.
The
failure of public schools to provide basic opportunities for learning, low teaching
standards and inadequate training for teachers has provide a window for private
entrepreneurship at all levels of education. While tertiary education is
largely owned by government, private ownership is almost taking over the
primary education.
Ownerships
has seen themselves as a partner in the provision of quality education to the
teeming population of Lagos State, which cannot be undertaken alone by the
state. Thus, private individuals and groups establish their own schools, albeit
on competitive basis and manage them within the framework of the National
Policy on Education (NPE). Private schools charge their own fees, formulate
their own admission policy, recruit their own teachers and of course have their
own career guidelines.
Thus,
the satisfaction derived by the rich and poor in terms of quality education in
the state constitute a problem between the public and private schools on
quality control albeit, on ensuring quality inputs and quality output.
The
issue of excellence and quality assurance in education should be of primary
concern to any Society, governments and parents alike. Private schools and
education are almost entirely exclusive; those who pursue education in these
institutions must pay for the services they enjoy. Considering the fact that
public schools do not enjoy a lot of public confidence at the moment, owing to
decaying infrastructure and years of neglect, it seems parents are favouring
privately run schools as viable alternative to the crumbling public school
structure.
At
the same time, there are some major challenges associated with a move to
private schools. Some private schools need to be so profit oriented that they
will be tempted to cut corners and deprive students of extra-curricular
activities, services and enrichment
In view of the above, the study is aimed at
proffering lasting solutions to those identified problems. The study further
tends to find out the problems encountered by both the government and the
private entrepreneurs in the delivery of secondary education in Lagos State.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The
aim of this research study is to examine the issues and challenges of
private ownership and educational management in Lagos State. The objectives
includes:
i.
To identify
management issues facing private owners in developing and improving the school.
ii.
To investigate if
fees paid in private schools is commensurate to the performance of students
iii.
To examine
whether private schools in Lagos are of standard as required by the guideline
of the state ministry of education.
iv.
To investigate
and compare the performance of private secondary school students in WAEC and
NECO 2012 – 2014.
v.
To identify the
percentage of enrolment in private secondary schools as compared with that of
public secondary schools in Lagos State
vi.
To examine the
role of Education Districts and Ministry of Education in quality assurance of
private secondary schools
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Research questions are those interrogative statements
that arise often from the course of study or alternatively they can be defined
as research objectives stated in interrogative form. Research questions are
meant to generate possible answers to different aspects of the research problem
and they should be clearly stated such that they act as guides in
identification, collection and analysis of relevant data. In order to achieve
the purpose of this research study, the study will attempt to provide answers
to the following research questions in order to arrive at a logical conclusion
i.
What are the
management issues facing private owners in developing and improving the school?
ii.
Are the fees paid
in private schools commensurate to the performance of students?
iii.
Do private
schools in Lagos meet the standard as required by the guideline of the state
Ministry of Education?
iv.
What are the performance
of private secondary school students in WAEC and NECO 2012 – 2014?
v.
What are enrolment
figures in the management of private secondary schools as compared with that of
public secondary schools in Lagos State?
vi.
What are the role
of Education Districts and Ministry of
Education in quality assurance of private secondary schools?
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH
The significance of the research project is to
provide both theoretical and practical lasting solution to issues and
encountered by private owners of secondary schools in Lagos State. Hence, the
research will provide relevant information for individuals who want to invest
in secondary education in Lagos State.
Additionally, it could be used by private
schools owners to provide some of the likely solutions to the challenges that
could affect the efficiency and effectiveness of their investment.
The study will also be of benefits to the
state government and most especially, the state Ministry of Education (MOE) in
identifying the various issues challenges faced by private secondary school
owners with relevant solutions
SCOPE
OF STUDY
The premise on which this study is based is, issues and
challenges faced by private ownership and educational management in Lagos
State. The study covers the history of Private
ownership in educational administration in Nigeria, issues and challenges of
private secondary schools administration and solutions to address the
respective issues.
The population scope covers all secondary
school administrators of private schools in Lagos State, Nigeria.
The instruments the research adopts are
interviews and a well designed questionnaire. It leaned towards close ended but
opportunity was provided for respondents to express personal opinions or
comments on what they felt concerning some question.
The
questionnaire was administered to proprietors and proprietress of fifty (50)
selected private secondary schools in Lagos. To gather more facts interviews
were granted to respective private secondary schools.
To justify the private school standards,
interviews were granted to Education District and Ministry of Education to
identify if private secondary schools met requirements as provided by the
government bodies.
Statistically, data garnered were presented and
analysed using descriptive statistics such as tables with percentage
distribution, bar chart and pie charts.
DEFINITION OF
TERMS
Words that are frequently used in this
research work are short listed here and briefly discussed to enable the reader
get equipped with their meaning. Some which are:
FUND: This is an
amount set aside for the purpose, which is some special. It is a financial
resource, a stock, a supply provided with money.
PRIVATE
SCHOOLS:
These are schools own, control, directed and operated solely by individual with
exception of government hands.
MOTIVATION:
It
means to cause or make a person to wish to work or act in a certain way.
EXAMINE:
To
look into and consider carefully the identified issues and challenges in
private secondary schools of Lagos state.
PROPRIETORS: The owners of
the private secondary school owners in Lagos State.
Infrastructure:
The
basic structural part of something, e.g roads, sewage bridges, etc regarded as
facilities
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