Government funding and quality of education in Nigeria: the imperative role of non-governmental organizations

Abstract

The imperative for sound and quality education cannot be overemphasized. Education is fundamental to the construction of a knowledge economy and society in all nations. It provides the needed manpower for the overall turn- around of a nation. In Nigeria, the educational system is bedevilled by poor funding characterized by incessant strikes, closures of schools and decay in infrastructure. This study examines the issue of government playing a dominant role in financing public schools vis-a-vis the quality of education in Nigeria. The fundamental questioned that is posed is, in a nation where educational policies, infrastructure, personnel and programs are provided mainly by the government, can education develop beyond what the government can provide?  Using a descriptive approach, the study, which relies on secondary data and adopts the systems theory as its frame of the analysis found out that government funding of the educational sector has eroded the quality of education in Nigeria. Based on this, it recommends a funding strategy where Non-Governmental Organizations will complement government efforts to fund education in the country.