A National Survey of Challenges to Effective Management Interventions in the National Open University of Nigeria Study Centres
*1Josiah Owolabi, 2Leah Olubunmi Oni & 3Johnson Ayodele Opateye
1&2Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria. Email: joowolabi@noun.edu.ng1*, ooni@noun.edu.ng2, jopateye@noun.edu.ng3
Abstract
This study identified and ranked the challenges militating against effective management interventions at study centres of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). A descriptive survey design was employed. Data were collected from 212 staff across 18 study centres using a validated 16-item challenges questionnaire rated on a 4-point scale. Face and content validity of the instrument were established by experts in evaluation, and the reliability index was 0.906. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The findings revealed that 15 of the 16 identified challenges were endorsed by staff as significant challenges. The most critical challenges were unstable and epileptic power supply, high cost of purchase of ICT facilities, and high cost of Internet service. Sub-analyses revealed that staff in community/special centres reported consistently higher challenge scores than those in model centres across all items. The study concluded that challenges to effective management interventions at NOUN study centres are multiple and interconnected, with the most severe being power and ICT costs. Recommendations include investment in alternative power sources for all study centres and the establishment of a dedicated ICT maintenance fund
Keywords: Challenges, Management Intervention, Open and Distance Learning, Study Centres, National Open University of Nigeria
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