COMPLETE SCHOOL PROJECT TOPICS & MATERIALS :
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Abstract

Resource utilization is an integral part of the overall management of the school. Education in a school is determined by provision of resources, their maximum utilization and management. A direct relationship exists between the quality of school facilities, teaching and learning materials, teaching personnel and the education process. The above will eventually determine the instructional programmes and performance of the school. This study investigated the impact of resource utilization in education in secondary schools as perceived by principal and teachers in Jos south local government of plateau state. This included the use of instructional materials in the teaching/learning process, human resource utilization, school building design, impact of physical facilities and school size on students. The researcher employed ex post facto research design to conduct the study. The target population consisted of all the public and private secondary schools in the local government. The sample consisted of 10 secondary schools; the principal of the sampled school was automatically included in the study while one teacher was randomly elected. The Data was collected through an interview schedule with the school principals and teachers by means of questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study found out that teaching learning resources are available in most schools and are properly utilized. In particular materials related to classroom instruction are adequate. However laboratories, libraries, computer rooms, agriculture/home science rooms are inadequate in most schools. The study established that the number of teachers in most schools was grossly inadequate. It was also found out that the physical facilities and recreational facilities were inadequate. The findings of the study provided empirical data about the impact of resource utilization on instructional programmes, performance and eventually the extent of use of resources in instructional programmes. Based on these findings, the study therefore recommends that more funds be allocated to equip the laboratories, computer rooms, science rooms and agriculture rooms. Greater attention be given to support facilities, employment of more teachers and teachers should prepare and make use of professional documents.

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

This introductory chapter presents the background of the study, the statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research objectives, research questions, significance of the study, scope, limitations, assumptions, operational definitions of terms, theoretical and conceptual frameworks.

The primary purpose of education is to bring about desirable change in behavior through acquisition of skills, attitudes, competencies, critical and creative thinking. Teaching is a complex and demanding task that requires highly specialized skills, knowledge and resources to impact significantly on student learning. Availability and utilization of resources in an organization is important in achievement of its goals and objectives. Students learning outcome is influenced by appropriate utilization of school resources. Investing in educational resources is the key to ensuring that schools become institutions where students‟ work together, learn from each other and benefit from a supportive school environment, and consequently maximize student learning so that all students achieve their full learning potential (United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO), 2007).

The physical, human and financial resources invested in schools influence not only the education provided to students but also aspects of teachers and student motivation and consequently the educational outcomes. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows that resource shortages hinder instruction and lower student performance (OECD, 2007). In addition, inequalities in student’s educational performance often reflect disparities in in the resources invested in schools (OECD, 2008). In some education systems, there are concerns that schools not only lack the resources to meet the educational requirements of their students, but that schools may have fewer resources with which to provide instruction to their students (OECD, 2008). In schools, there are a wide variety of resources that are directly or indirectly related to educational outcomes.

 

According to Okorie (2001) student learning outcomes in schools is largely dependent on availability and appropriate utilization of resources, because the students acquire skills using these resources. These resources include buildings, furniture, playground, compound, toilet facilities, lighting, books, teaching materials, among others. These facilities play a pivotal role in the actualization of the educational goals and objectives by satisfying the physical and emotional needs of the staff and students.

These facilities play a pivotal role in the actualization of the educational goals and objectives by satisfying the physical, emotional and cognitive needs of the staff and students.  Abayomi and Olukayode (2006) states that resources in schools are important in education because learning takes place best through discovery, exploration, and interaction with the internal and external environments.  As a result one of the main emphases in education today is the shift from a teacher centeredapproach to a more learner centeredapproach. This involves actually putting the learner’s needs at the center of activities. To achieve this goal teachers need to use a wide variety of resources, which can enrich the learning environment. The adequacy of physical resources and teaching materials as well as their effective utilization has been a matter of serious concern to educators. The utilization of resources in education brings about fruitful learning outcomes since it stimulates and motivates students’ (Okorie, 2001).

According to Pearls (2000), though teachers are required to deliver formal teaching in a classroom, much of the day-to-day teaching goes on outside the classroom in the course of interaction between learners and their physical environment. Being aware of the resources available can help to enhance teaching and facilitate learning and thus make a shift to a learner centered approach.  A learner centered approach involves enabling students to work with their teachers, with other students and even individually. This is particularly helpful because there are opportunities for learning in virtually every activity that the students carry out; there are not always opportunities for formal teaching events.  The appropriate utilization of resources helps teachers make the shift in their approach to facilitating learning rather than delivering teaching.

Wenglinsky (2005), reports that research has consistently highlighted that appropriate utilization of resources in schools as a key determinant of students‟ academic achievement. The research asserts that, in order for learning to be effective, students need an enabling environment that is both psychologically and physically friendly to the learners. Effective schools have rigorous systems of accountability, a focus on teaching and learning, stimulating and secure learning environments. Poor academic performance is connected with poor learning environment created by a poor state of infrastructural facilities. Lyons (2012), adds that learning is a complex activity that involves interplay of students’ motivation, physical condition, teaching resources, skills of teaching and the curriculum. All these play a vital role in a student’s development. He further concluded that there is an explicit relationship between a schools physical facilities and educational outcomes. Good maintenance, modern systems, and flexible designs are important because the physical structure can limit the learning experience. School facilities should be flexible enough to accommodate changing learning patterns and methods. Ibe-Bassey (2002), agrees with this view and adds that several studies have shown that a close relationship exists between the physical environment and the academic performance of students.  Reedy (2006), adds that the availability of physical facilities and the overall atmosphere in which learning takes place bears direct relevance to the quality of education that students receive in schools.

 

Johan (2004), states that educational outcomes in schools are closely linked to utilization and adequacy of teaching/learning resources in different ways; poor utilization, underutilization, unqualified educators brings forth low educational achievement. The inadequacy of physical and material resources in schools is a major factor responsible for learning outcome of students. Schools that do not have adequate facilities such as workshops, laboratories, classrooms, teaching learning materials are unlikely to post good results. The principles of facilitating effective learning and teaching involves having the practical skills and putting the learners own experience into practice. They receive inputs from the external environment in form of human and material resources, process them and empty the same into the society as finished products and services.  The quality of the products bears a direct relationship with the qualities of the facilities deployed in the process of production.

Provision and utilization of facilities is a responsibility of stake holders in education. The government ensures the implementation of the national policy on education by providing the enabling environment. In 2003 the government came up with various requirements for every school in order to qualify for the funds popularly known as Tuition Waiver (TW).  These funds provided by the government are supposed to be utilized in purchasing resources such as textbooks, exercise books, laboratory equipment and chemicals, teaching and learning aids reference materials, teacher’s guides, chalk, dusters, registers and internal examinations.  When targets are reached in the purchase of the above resources, funds can be allocated to purchase of items in other categories (Ministry of Education, 2003).

With availability of extra funds over-crowding in classrooms can be reduced through provision of adequate furniture and equipment to improve teaching and learning environments. This will entail building of new classrooms and rehabilitation and maintenance of existing ones.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Teachers, resources and the school environment have an obvious impact on education and eventually student’s performance (UNESCO, 2007). Quality education is no doubt a function of availability and appropriate utilization of input resources.  According to Wenglinsky (2005) the availability and utilization of human and non-human resources determines the efficiency of the school system. Abudul-Kareen (2003) asserts that teachers require quality and adequate resources in order to ensure school success.  Glaring disparities in academic performance have been observed in secondary schools in Jos South. This is despite the fact that the schools enroll students with comparable entry behavior and receive comparable funding from the government and other stake holders. This study intends to investigate how resource utilization is impacting on education with a view of addressing the disparity in academic performance in Jos South.

1.3       Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of resource utilization in education as perceived by principals and teachers in secondary schools in Jos South.

 

1.4       Objectives of the Study

This study was guided by the following objectives.

1. To assess the availability and utilization of school resources and their impact on educational outcomes in secondary schools in Jos South.
2. To assess the nature and adequacy of physical facilities and their impact on educational outcomes in secondary schools in Jos South.

• To assess the level of qualification and preparation of teachers and their impact on educational outcomes in secondary schools in Jos South.

1. Assess the resource utilization and its impact on performance.

1.5       Research Questions

This study sought to answer the following research questions.