Description/Abstract:
ABSTRACT
SCHOOL-BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP: A STUDY OP THE PERSPECTIVES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES IN NIGERIA
Elizabeth Ijeoma Alozie Anunkor
This study ascertained the perspectives of secondary school principals and CEOs in Nigeria on school-business partnership and determined the existence and scope of such relationship. It ascertained how respondents viewed the quality of secondary education in Nigeria.
Data were collected from 92 usable questionnaires completed by 51 CEOs and 41 secondary school principals. The researcher created the survey instrument, and analyzed results using crosstabs and chi-square. The questionnaires had three distinct parts: part 1 dealt with demographic characteristics of the companies and schools, including the views of CEOs on social responsibility of business. Part II probed respondents' opinions on issues about Nigerian education - its quality, availability-and quality of school facilities, level and sources of funding, and who is responsible for solving educational problems. Part III questions sought to know whether schools and companies had partnerships, forms of partnership involved, motivations for getting or not getting into partnerships, effective ways to establish partnerships, and what could be done to encourage businesses and schools to get into more sustainable collaborations to improve education outcomes.
It was concluded that Nigerian CEOs are favorably disposed toward committing their corporate resources to social programs, including education. Respondents rated the quality of secondary education as not outstanding, and the quality of physical plants and equipment as not excellent. Principals rated school facilities as very poor or nonexistent. The study indicates that only philanthropic activities currently exist at the secondary school level in Nigeria. Lack of awareness was the main reason for not having true partnerships. To be seen as good corporate citizens and to help improve school, outcomes were the CEOs' main reasons for assisting schools. Respondents are willing to shift from philanthropic activities to more substantive forms of partnerships.
To eliminate the lack of knowledge of school-business partnerships, it is recommended that conferences, seminars and workshops be organized to expose business leaders, principals, and policymakers to the nature of partnerships. A framework for building collaborative relationships between schools and businesses is proposed.