Funding and Resource Allocation in Public Secondary Schools in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study investigates the correlation between funding sources specifically tuition fees anddevelopment levies and resource allocation in public secondary schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study is anchored on the understanding that adequate funding and equitable resource distribution are critical to delivering quality education, the research highlights the persistent challenges of insufficient financing, inequitable allocation, and inefficient resource utilization across the state’s secondary education sector. A survey research design was adopted, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 261 respondents comprising principals and teachers across the three education zones in the state. The population of the study comprised all 289 public secondary schools in Cross River State. To ensure fair representation, a stratified random sampling technique was employed. The sample was drawn from the three education zones in the state as follows: 25 principals and 50 teachers from Ogoja Zone, 30 principals and 60 teachers from Ikom Zone, and 32 principals and 64 teachers from Calabar Zone, making a total of 261 respondents. This sampling method was chosen to capture the views of key stakeholders across different geographical areas within the state. Data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Findings revealed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between tuition fees and resource allocation (r = 0.222, p < .001), while development levies showed no significant relationship with resource allocation (r = 0.002, p = .969). These outcomes suggest that tuition fees contribute marginally to school resource availability, whereas development levies are inconsequential in their impact. The study concludes that enhanced government funding, improved financial transparency, and active stakeholder’s involvement are essential for sustainable and equitable resource management. Recommendations include increased budgetary allocations in line with UNESCO standards and strengthened accountability mechanisms to foster effective educational outcomes.

Keywords: Funding, Resource, Allocation, Public Secondary Schools