ROLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR IN OWNERSHIP AND FUNDING OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the role of private sector in ownership and funding of secondary
education in Anambra State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was adopted to provide
the right blueprint for the study and two research questions were formulated to guide the study. The
population of the study comprised all the 686 principals of the 686 private secondary schools in
Anambra State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to draw 446 principals as the sample
for the study. The researchers developed a structured questionnaire titled ‘Private Sector, Ownership
and Funding of Secondary Education Scale’ (PSOFSES), and it was used to collect relevant primary
data, and was validated by 3 experts. The reliability test of the questionnaire was ascertained through
Cronbach Alpha method, and with a coefficient of 0.83 was considered satisfactory for the study. The
researcher administered the instrument together with the help of 10 research assistants. Mean was
utilized as the descriptive statistical parameter to present and interpret results that answered the research
questions. The study found that the role of the private sector in relation to ownership of secondary
education among others include: bearing the cost involved in the acquisition of land for setting up of
the school, school buses and vehicles for operation, legal registration of the school/business name for
operations, and constantly promoting the school’s vision, mission, programmes and activities, as well
as bearing the cost of maintenance of the school plants. It was concluded that both schools type enjoy
the inherent benefits and bear potential risks, taking responsibility in sourcing for funds, allocation of
funds, and utilization of funds to keep the school operational and sustainable