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HOW CORRUPTION HAS CONTRIBUTED TO FALL OF THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Education is transmitting and acquiring knowledge, experiences, and skills that positively change individuals and societies. Honesty, selflessness, tolerance, devotion, hard effort, and personal integrity are just a few of the traits and ideologies education encourages at all levels. It provides a favorable environment for raising future leaders who can solve social and economic issues. According to Asian School of India (2018), education is a tool that gives people the knowledge, skills, and capacities to understand their rights and duties to aid in finding solutions

to the social and economic problems that their family and nation are now experiencing. According to Ukata (2019), Kingdom and Maekae (2013), education is the only means of arousing people's attention. Therefore, education's major goal is to create sensible, cooperative, enlightened people who follow the rules of the society in which they live.

Additionally, education is the overall process of training, learning specialized abilities, information, behaviors, and morals necessary for a person to be responsible while contributing to social progress by understanding right and wrong, which corruption may be difficult for (Madaki, 2019). The influence of education on any nation during this time of globalization cannot be overlooked because it also encourages social and cultural oneness by promoting a concept of societal partnership of awareness (Egbefo & Ibbu, 2012). However, Nigeria, which was among the wealthiest countries in the early 1970s, has declined to be. Due to corrupt practices, education in Nigeria has had significant difficulties (Madaki, 2019). According to Jacob, Josiah, and Solomon (2021), Ahmodu and Sofoluwe, 2018), corruption in the Nigerian education sector primarily takes the form of bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, financial misappropriation, falsification of academic records, non-remittance of tax or money collected, contract inflation, and ghost worker syndrome.

Corruption stands as a pervasive challenge within Nigeria's educational sector, exerting a detrimental influence on the standard of education across the nation. With a history of misappropriation, embezzlement, and unethical practices, corruption has insidiously infiltrated various levels of the educational system, undermining its efficacy and impeding progress. This phenomenon has been a significant contributor to the decline in the quality of education in Nigeria, exacerbating existing disparities and hindering the realization of academic excellence and socio-economic development.

The detrimental effects of corruption on education in Nigeria are multifaceted, spanning from compromised infrastructure and resources to compromised integrity and academic standards. Financial malfeasance often leads to inadequate funding allocation for educational institutions, resulting in dilapidated facilities, insufficient learning materials, and poorly remunerated educators. Furthermore, corrupt practices such as bribery and nepotism distort merit-based admissions and appointments, eroding trust in the educational system and perpetuating inequality. As a result, the pervasive presence of corruption undermines the foundational pillars of education, thwarting efforts to cultivate a knowledgeable and empowered citizenry essential for national advancement.

Corruption has weakened the educational sector in Nigeria leading to low efficiency, wastage and misappropriation of resources, low quality service delivery. Corruption in education affects more people than corruption in order to threaten the development of the nation, basically because schools are breeding grounds for future generations (EFCC, 2009).  Thus, it can be said that corruption starts from the grass root basically and not from the top. When a child is exposed to all these corrupt practices at a tender age, he tends to grow with it and with time exhibits the character anywhere he finds himself in the future.

Corruption is one of the major causes of examination malpractices in both public and private schools today. It occurs at all levels of both public and private schools in Nigeria both directly or indirectly. All over Nigeria, the perception of corruption in all   schools is very high and uncontrollable. This is because, corruption undermines every aspect of the Educational System among which are, political development, economic development, social development and so on. It should be emphasized here that it is not just only in the governance or educational system that corruption is found; it is equally noticeable in every human society today in Nigeria (Samson, 2012). It is on this note that Samson (2012) postulated that the issue of corruption leads to an extent whereby the common man will look at the trend and say, if the rich could do this to succeed or pass an exam, then my own child must survive too. So they will also emulate it even if they don’t have the money. The total effect is what we are experiencing today and the ministry of education and the policymakers are not helping matters concerning the issue of the ongoing level of corruption in schools both private and public schools.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It is the belief of every society that education is a bedrock of the survival of any nation. This equally includes individuals as educated ones are believed to be easily employed or be able to have reasonable means of survival and contributing to the growth of the society. However, all these beliefs are no longer the case today, as those who graduate from different levels of education, especially the university graduates are seen to be unemployable due to their inability to defend their assured certificates. This has called for series of debate, as some people are of the view that the turning out of half-baked graduates who are unemployable are as a result of the corruption that has taken over the educational sector, which has at the same time affected the socio-economic development of the country, others are of the opinion that the situation lies on the inability of the government to reform the educational sector and make it entrepreneurship based.

As a result of the controversy, the research sought to assess the implication of corruption in the Nigerian educational system. In view of the above, this study attempted to provide answers to the following research questions:

1. Has corruption contributed to the falling quality of education in Nigeria?

2. Is corruption in the educational sector responsible for the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria?

3. Is corruption in Nigerian educational system a challenge to sustainable socio-economic development in Nigeria?

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to determine how corruption has contributed to fall of the standard of education in Nigeria.

 Specific objectives include;

1. To investigate the specific forms and prevalence of corruption within Nigeria's educational institutions.

2. To examine the direct impact of corruption on the quality of education and academic standards in the country.

3. To assess the effectiveness of existing anti-corruption measures and policies in mitigating the adverse effects of corruption on the educational sector.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the predominant forms of corruption present in Nigerian educational institutions, and how widespread are they?

2. How does corruption directly influence the standard of education and academic integrity within the Nigerian educational system?

3. What is the efficacy of current anti-corruption initiatives and policies in addressing and combating corruption within the educational sector?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis i

H0: There is no significant relationship between corruption in Nigerian educational institutions and the declining standard of education.

H1:  Corruption in Nigerian educational institutions is significantly associated with the declining standard of education.

Hypothesis ii

H0: Anti-corruption measures in Nigeria's educational sector do not effectively mitigate the adverse effects of corruption on academic standards.

H1:  Anti-corruption measures in Nigeria's educational sector effectively mitigate the adverse effects of corruption on academic standards.

Hypothesis iii

H0: There is no significant difference in the prevalence of corruption among different levels of educational institutions in Nigeria.

H1: There is a significant difference in the prevalence of corruption among different levels of educational institutions in Nigeria.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study shall proffer a detailed appraisal of the nature of corruption in Nigeria. The study shall appraise the falling standard of Education in Nigeria and seek to determine the effect of corruption on the falling standard of Education in Nigeria. The study shall provide significant information for experts in the Educational sector.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of study for examining how corruption has contributed to the decline of the standard of education in Nasarawa State University involves investigating various facets of corruption within the institution, including financial mismanagement, academic fraud, and administrative malpractice. This research will analyze the specific mechanisms through which corruption impacts educational quality, such as compromised infrastructure, diminished academic standards, and reduced access to resources. Additionally, the study will explore the socio-economic consequences of corruption on students' learning outcomes and overall educational experience. Through empirical data collection and qualitative analysis, the research aims to provide insights into the multifaceted nature of corruption's influence on educational standards in Nasarawa State University.

1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The limitations of this study include potential challenges in accessing comprehensive data on corruption within Nasarawa State University; as such information may be sensitive or obscured. Additionally, the study's scope is limited to the context of Nasarawa State University, which may not fully represent the broader landscape of corruption in Nigerian higher education. Moreover, the research relies on self-reported data and perceptions, which may introduce bias or inaccuracies. Resource constraints may also limit the depth of analysis or the ability to conduct longitudinal research. Finally, the study may face limitations in generalizability to other educational institutions or regions beyond Nasarawa State University.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Corruption: Corruption refers to dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery or improper inducements, leading to the misuse of public resources or authority for personal gain.

2. Standard of Education: The standard of education refers to the level of quality and proficiency achieved in educational systems, including factors such as curriculum effectiveness, teaching quality, student performance, and educational infrastructure.

3. Nigerian Educational System: The Nigerian educational system encompasses the structures, policies, and practices governing education in Nigeria, including primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, as well as vocational and technical training institutions.

4. Administrative Corruption: Administrative corruption refers to corrupt practices within educational institutions, involving misuse of administrative powers, nepotism, embezzlement of funds, or manipulation of processes for personal gain or favoritism.

5. Academic Integrity:  Academic integrity refers to the ethical principles and values upheld within educational environments, including honesty, fairness, and respect for intellectual property, which are essential for maintaining the credibility and validity of academic pursuits.

6. Socio-economic Development: Socio-economic development encompasses the improvement of social and economic conditions within a society, including factors such as poverty reduction, employment opportunities, access to education and healthcare, and overall well-being of the population.

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