ASSESSMENT OF FACILITY NEEDS IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ONITSHA EDUCATION ZONE OF ANAMBRA STATE
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to assess the facility needs in public primary schools in Onitsha education zone of Anambra state. To achieve the purpose of the study, five research questions were posed and two null hypotheses were formulated. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population for the study comprised one hundred and twenty three (123) head teachers in the public primary schools in Onitsha education zone of Anambra State. All the 123 head teachers constitute the sample size of the study. This implies that no sampling technique was carried out in this study because the population was small and manageable. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled “Facility Needs of Public Primary Schools” (FNPPS) developed by the researcher. The instrument was validated by experts in Science Education. The FNPPS was trial tested to determine the reliability using twenty five head teachers in Nnewi education zone of Anambra State who are not part of the study and reliability coefficient of 0.90 and 0.93 were obtained for cluster C and E respectively. The data obtained for the study were analyzed using percentage and frequency for answering research question one, two and four while research question three and five were answered using means and standard deviation. Chi-square (X2) and analysis of variance were used to test the null hypothesis one and two respectively. The findings of the study revealed that: all the facilities in the item statement are needed in public primary schools in Onitsha education zone of Anambra State; only 22 facilities needed in public primary schools in Onitsha education zone were available. The findings also revroealed that the available facilities needed in Onitsha education zone of Anambra State are fairly adequate; only three (3) available facilities needed in public primary schools in Onitsha education zone are functional. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that; government should develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation system to enhance quality assurance in all public schools in the state; government and other proprietors of schools should equip schools with adequate facilities required for the implementation of stated objectives of primary school and government should provide adequate quality assurance funding at primary school level.