Early Childhood Education Integration and Primary School Administrative Efficiency in Kebbi State, Nigeria: A Mixed – Methods Study
Shehu Bazata Yusuf
Department of Education Foundations, Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria. Email: bazatah@gmail.com or syusuf.bazata@fubk.edu.ng
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between Early Childhood Education (ECE) and the efficiency of primary school administration in Kebbi State. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 120 head teachers, 240 teachers, and 6 Local Education Authority officers across 12 local government areas. Findings indicate that schools with functional ECE centers showed 34% higher pupil enrollment retention, 28% better teacher-administrator communication, and significantly lower repetition rates in primary 1–3. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, lack of trained ECE facilitators, and poor infrastructure hinder full integration. Recommendations include policy enforcement of ECE as a prerequisite for primary admission and targeted training for administrators, Kebbi State SUBEB should revise admission policies to require evidence of at least one year of ECE participation before entry into primary one. A transitional period of two years should be provided for communities without existing ECE infrastructure. This recommendation is supported by the finding that children with even one year of ECE had significantly higher completion rates (78% vs. 61%). Mandate ECE enrollment as a prerequisite for primary one admission: also, recommended that KSUBEB should develop, print, and distribute a standardized ECE-to-primary-one transition record form to every school with an ECE unit. Completion of this form should be a monitored performance indicator for head teachers. Digital records and should be piloted in urban LGAs like Birnin Kebbi before rural scale-up. Establish mandatory transition record systems also this paper highlights some concepts of Early Childhood Education, Primary school administration also the policy mandate of Early childhood education in accordance with the National Policy on Education among others.
Keywords: Early Childhood Education Integration Primary School and Administrative Efficiency
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