PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA
1Okilo D.A. and 2Digha O.N
1Department of Educational Management
Rivers State University of Science and Technology Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.
2Department of Geography
Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education Sagbama, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
E-mail: digbaopaminola@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
This study examined the private sector participation in Education and the development of secondary schools education in Bayelsa State. Three research questions were posed and three
hypotheses were formulated. The instrument adopted in this study to collect data from the respondents is a questionnaire titled “Private Sector Participation and Development of Schools
Questionnaire (PSPPSQ) in Bayelsa State”. The population of the study is 2,240 proprietors,
teachers and ministry of Education officials comprising 22 private school proprietors, 1,660 teachers and 558 staff of the ministry of Education in Bayelsa State. The sample size of the
study is 300 proprietors, teachers and ministry of Education Officials comprising 22 school proprietors, 228 teachers and 50 ministry of Education officials. The collected responses were
duly analyzed using mean (x) and t-test statistical methods. Analysis of the data indicates that
the three hypotheses formulated were accepted at a significant level of 0.05. This revealed that there are no significant differences between the perception of school proprietors and ministry
officials on the hypotheses formulated. The finding of the study shows that proprietors are in school business to reduce illiteracy level of the state. However, ministry officials agree that
profit is upper most for some school proprietors. It also indicates inadequacy in qualified teachers, equipment facilities etc. it is recommended that Government should subsidize the
funding of education of the private sector. They should be encouraged to set up more quality secondary schools to meet the educational needs of the state. Government must also step up
routine checks and inspection of private schools while unapproved schools should be closed down.