ABSTRACT
The study aimed at finding out the challenges facing public schools administration a case study of Kuje Area Council of FCT Abuja. Ten (10) schools were used as sample out of about thirty (30) public schools, five schools administrators and sixty senior teachers were randomly selected from the ten (10) schools as sample population of over four hundred (400) teachers and administrators making up the schools in Kuje Area Council the opinion of the sampled population on the research topic were accessed through questionnaire items and simple percentage was used as means of evaluating their responses.
The findings showed that administration of LEA schools in Kuje Area Council had challenges of inadequate funding, over population of classes, non availability of teaching aids and recommended textbooks for teachers and pupils, poor functioning of P.T.A; lack of security, necessary amenities plus infrastructure and furniture for teachers and pupils performance and weakened the strength of schools’ administration. The major area of prospects identified was proper funding of schools through government intervention and restoring of P.T.As to give assistance in the provision of necessary facilities to the schools to ease the administration of Local Education authority everywhere particular, Kuje Area Council.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Primary education is the foundation of formal education. It is an essential component in the echelon of educational system of every nation. In order to qualify for other levels of education one must first pass through primary schools, as such it is an institution upon which all other levels of education and educational achievements are built. It prepares the mind and trains the child for higher and tougher academic pursuits. It provides young learners with the fundamentals of reading, writing, skill acquisition, information and attitudes necessary for proper adjustment into the society. Majority of teachers in government schools are suering from various challenges. One among those challenges is concerning with payments. Teachers are entitled to be paid salary, leave allowances and arrears when they get promotion. Teachers’ payment problem emerged since the government started to implement Structural Adjustment Program (SAPs) conditional ties particularly in the mid of 1980s. Prior to the implement action of SAPs conditional ties teachers were paid salaries, leave allowances, transport allowance, rent allowance and teaching allowance. One of the conditional ties imposed by World Bank and IMF through SAPS was the reduction in public spending on social services including education at all levels (Brock Utne, 2006). The reduction of public social services affected teachers’ payments which lead to the challenges to the teachers as follow, rent allowance; motivation, transport allowance and teaching allowances were no longer provided. Teacher motivation has become an essential issue given their responsibility to impart knowledge and skills to learners. Studies revealed that the performance of teachers was good regardless of the fact that their motivation was inadequate. In addition, a number of teachers do their activities with high morale such as reporting early to school, regular testing and examination of pupils and high turn up of teachers in sta meetings and school occasions mention a few. In order to improve teacher challenges and performance at work, the study recommended the increase of salary for primary school teachers to match with the increasing cost of living standard of life, providing of accommodation to teachers, strengthening of management as well as giving prizes for good performance among teachers.
