Benue State University, Makurdi

QADEQUATE FUNDING: A TOOL FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE IN NIGERIANTERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Yusuf Suleiman
Department of Educational Management and Counselling, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Mustapha Adam Ishola
Department of Educational Management, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Lawal Abdulmumin Abubakar
Department of Educational Management, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Lawal Ade Aliyu
Department of Educational Management and Counselling, Al-Hikmah University, KwaraState, Nigeria

Abstract

The frequent strike action in Nigerian tertiary institutions is hinged on the growing interests and calls by academic unions on the financing aspects of tertiary education. Other stakeholders in education have also attributed lack of fund as the major factor that is contributing to the decline in the quality of university education in Nigeria. In view of the foregoing, this study examined adequate funding as a tool for achieving quality assurance in universities. To achieve this, concept of university education, objectives of university education, as well as the facilities needed for achieving its objectives as contained in the National Policy on Education were examined. A comparative analysis on funding of education between Nigeria and other African countries were also examined. The study concludes that the budget allocated to education is far below the UNESCO’s recommendation of 26%, which has had adverse effect on quality of university education in Nigeria. The study recommends that to achieve the huge goals of university education, part of which is expected to make optimum contribution to national development through the intensification and diversification of its programmes for the development of high level human resources base within the context of the needs of the nation, adequate fund should be consistently devoted to universities (by government and other concerned stakeholders) to improve the quality of infrastructure, research, staff training and developmet and remuneration so that quality assurance can be assured.

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE (CLICK)