GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AKOKO SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ONDO STATE

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between government funding and infrastructure development in public secondary schools in Akoko South Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria. The study raised four research questions and tested one null hypothesis. The study adopted a descriptive research design of the survey type. The population comprised all principals and teachers in public secondary schools in Akoko South West Local Government, Ondo State. A sample of 110 respondents, including 100 teachers and 10 principals, was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire titled "Government Funding and Infrastructural Development Questionnaire (GFIDQ)". The instrument was validated and found to be reliable. The findings revealed that the respondents have a moderately positive perception of the level of government funding allocated to public secondary schools in the Akoko South Local Government area. The respondents generally have a positive perception of the state of infrastructure development in the public secondary schools in the Akoko South West Local Government Area. The data also suggested that the respondents perceive the government's funding as having a generally positive influence on the quality and availability of infrastructure in the public secondary schools. However, the respondents identified significant challenges associated with government funding for infrastructure development, including delays in the disbursement of funds, inadequate funding, lack of transparency in the allocation process, misalignment of funding priorities, and bureaucratic hurdles. The hypothesis testing showed that there is a weak positive relationship between government funding and the level of infrastructure development in public secondary schools in the Akoko South Local Government area, but this relationship is not statistically significant. The study concluded that while the government's funding efforts are moderately positive, there are still areas that require more attention and investment, particularly in terms of the adequacy and transparency of the funding allocation process. The study also found that the government's funding has a generally positive influence on the quality and availability of infrastructure, but significant challenges constrain the schools' ability to effectively utilize the available resources. The study recommends that the government should increase funding, improve transparency, streamline administrative procedures, prioritize digital and sanitation infrastructure, and explore alternative funding sources to address the identified challenges and enhance infrastructure development in public secondary schools.