THE POLITICS OF FUNDING EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR BASIC EDUCATION IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Basic Education is the foundation of any educational system of a nation. Nigeria with the 6-3-3-4 system of education operates a 9 years basic education (6 years primary and 3 years junior secondary) to broadly form the Basic Education which is by the Universal Basic Education standard free and compulsory. The study investigated the politics of educational funding in Nigeria using Basic Education in Cross River State as a case study. The study adopted a survey design and randomly sampled 300 primary school teachers. The study found that educational funding at the Local, State and National levels have been politicized. Budget for education from 2000 to date have not exceeded 9.0% as against the UNESCO recommendation of 26%. Also, contracts for educational facilities are awarded as political compensation and often abandoned all through the State. It was recommended that both Cross River and National Government should stop paying lip service to educational funding and increase their commitment, and that contracts should not be used as political settlements for the growth of the sector. Keywords: Politics, Education, Funding, Basic