Spatial Distribution of Government Primary and Secondary Schools and the Free and Compulsory Education Policy in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Volume 13 Issue 4 March - May 2018

Research Paper

Spatial Distribution of Government Primary and Secondary Schools and the Free and Compulsory Education Policy in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

S. E. Etuk* , O. E. Agbasi**, U. W. Robertt***

* Senior Chief Technologist, Department of Physics, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.

** Researcher, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Nigeria.

*** Academic Technologist, Department of Physics, Akwa Ibom State University, Mkpat-Enin, Nigeria

Etuk, S. E., Agbasi, O. E., and Robertt, U. W. (2018). Spatial Distribution of Government Primary and Secondary Schools and the Free and Compulsory Education Policy in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria i-manager’s Journal on School Educational Technology, 13(4), 10-19. https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.13.4.14540

Abstract

This study attempts to answer the questions on whether the number and spatial distribution of available state owned primary and secondary schools in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria can actually support the government policy of free and compulsory education in the state. The study examined the relationship between the available public schools and population as well as land area. The causality of the establishment and distribution of public primary and secondary schools were equally investigated. The result of this investigation reveals that though there is linear correlation between land area and number of public schools, and between population and number of public schools, yet neither land area nor population is the cause of establishing public schools in the state. Statistics reveals that the number of available public schools cannot make the free and compulsory education policy attainable, since private schools outnumber public schools. More public schools, which should be evenly distributed based on land area and population are needed for the policy to succeed. This is very necessary, since there is no better investment for any society than training the children and the youth.