Financing Primary Education for Sustainable National Development in Nigeria: A Review of Challenges and Way Forward
Bello Ibrahim, Bashar Sa’adu Isa & Zainab Usman Saad
1*Department of Educational Foundation, School of General Education, Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria. Email: bbibrahimb2@gmail.com
2Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education, Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Nigeria. Email: mmbashar1984@gmail.com
3Department of Business Education, Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria. Email: xynabusmans@gmail.com
Abstract
This paper examines the need for proper funding of primary education in Nigeria for achieving sustainable national development. The paper illustrates that if adequate funding is provided towards primary schools, quality primary education would be derived thereby promoting human capital development, social equality, social cohesion, health well-being and environmental Sustainability. However, the paper explores some key challenges that serve as a stumbling block to achieving proper funding process and these include inadequate government allocation to education, corruption and mismanagement, socio-economic factors, infrastructural deficiencies, as well as teacher shortages and training. These would continue to deter the actualization of the desired development until they are fully overcome. Due to this, the paper recommends that the government should increase its budgetary allocation to education, combat corruption, enhance community involvement, enhance public-private partnerships, address the infrastructural needs, and also improve teacher training and retention. If these are done, primary education in Nigeria will gear towards achieving the sustainable development goals in the country.
Keywords
Funding, Primary, Education, Sustainable, Development
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