Education as an Effective Instrument for Grassroot Development

Inhaltsverzeichnis

INTRODUCTION

Statement of the Problem

Purpose of the Study

Research Questions

Hypotheses

Significance of the Study

Scope of Study

Research Design

Sampling Technique and Sample Size

Instrument of Data Collection and Procedure

Method of Data Treatment and Analysis

Analysis of Data and Discussions

Conclusions

Recommendations

REFERENCE

ABSTRACT

This study focused on Education as an Effective Instrument for Grassroot Development in Nigeria with particular reference to Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra state. The subject used for the study includes civil servants and private sectors. A total of one hundred and sixty copies of questionnaire were designed for the study was administered. The relevant data collected were analyzed using chi-square. The result shows that educational can bring awareness in the society change that will lead to developments and there is human capital development that leads to the improved standard of living at the grassroots level.

Keywords: Education, effective instrument and development.

INTRODUCTION

Education is an activity we all feel that we know something about having had practical experience of it. Nwosu (2014), defined education as the process of socializing the individuals to develop his/her capabilities, and abilities to acquire knowledge, skills, habits, interest, attitudes and behaviours that enable the individual adjust and respond to the environmental conditions in order to function effectively in the society for maximal personal and national development. Dewey (1963) defined education as a fostering, a nurturing and a cultivating process. This definition implies that education leads to development or growth.

Okoh, Ejedimu and Okafor (2013) noted that education is essential for survival and social change in the modern society. It is the foundation upon which physical and technological developments rest, as well as a veritable tool in the development of any nation especially developing ones. Thus, the value and functionality of nay education system lies in its ability to actualize the goals of education which emphasizes on self development of learners and usefulness to the socio-political and economic well being of the country (Odunayo and Olujuwon, 2010).

According to Osokoya (2003) education is the tapping qualities and potentialities of an individual in the society and the acquisition of skills, attitudes and competencies necessary for self actualization and for coping with day to day challenges. Education in any developing world, including Nigeria should:

- Promote national unity
- Address social inequalities
- Provide industrial manpower and pleasure
- Train for vocational competence
- Produce middle and high level manpower for economic development
- Promote international understanding
- Promote public morality
- Help in self actualization and
- Promote public enlightenment and actualization behaviour.

Education is therefore the process of training individuals to acquire relevant knowledge, skills, attitude and competence that will empower them to live effectively and efficiently in their environment (Ogwuazor, 2013). It is also generally seen as a process of helping an individual to lead the fullest life he or she is capable of living (Abidoye, 2011).

Every societies, past and present whether simple or complex, traditional or modern have always been engaged in the transmission of the culture of their youths. These includes their beliefs, customs, ideologies, philosophies and so, on, which are highly valued by the people and which are of benefits to their society at any particular time.

Statement of the Problem

The clamour to inculcate the roles of education at the grassroot level for development has not been achieved its laudable objectives. The grassroots socio-economic, cultural, political and technological development remains highly negligible. The rural communities are bisected with myriad of problems.

Among some of these problems include illiteracy, poverty, poor interpersonal relationship, lack of moral values, low standard of living, corruption, ritual killings, superstitions beliefs, etc, which affect meaningful development and wellbeing of the people.

This study has been undertaken to examine to what extent education role to grassroot development has been and also to determine what variables influence development rate and the rural communities. In the light of this, the study would find out if there are identifiable variables that can foster development at the grassroot level. Therefore, effort should be directed to provide answers to the following questions.

1. Are there some education related factors that can significantly influence development at the grassroot level?
2. Does education acquired by people have influence on their development?

Purpose of the Study

This study is designed to investigate the need of education to Grassroot Development in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State and it is aimed at identifying:

1. The effect of illiteracy on the development of the rural community (villages)
2. The resultant effect of poor human relations on the community development.
3. The relationship between human capital development (empowerment) and standard of living,
4. The influences which lack of appropriate skill and knowledge have on grassroot development.

Research Questions

To investigate the role of education on grassroot development, the following research questions were formulated by the researcher, which will serve as guide to the study.

1. Is there any relationship between educational awareness and change in the society, economic, political, cultural and moral ways of lives?
2. Does better human relationship have any significant relationship with social development?
3. Does human capital development have any relationship with improved standard of living?

Hypotheses

To proved answers to the problems raised, the following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study at .05 level of significance.

Ho1: There is no significant relationship between educational awareness and change.

Ho2: There is no significant relationship between better human relationship and social development

Ho3: There is no significant relationship between human capital development and improved standard of living.

Significance of the Study

Knowledge of the role of education to grassroot development is important. It is the realization of this fact that every nation that wants to grow attaches great importance of what happens in schools as well as its educational policies and programmes whether formal or informal in all tiers of education. However, individuals, communities do not attain the rate of development even within the same state.

This study would find out what factors and how these factors influences the general wellbeing of the people at the grassroot level; the importance of being education and the effects of not being educated on the people.

Also, the outcome of the findings would enable government, communities and individual to minimize some of the controllable factors that adversely affect the general well being of the populace.

Scope of Study

This study covers education as an effective instrument for grassroot development in Nigeria. However, due to limited financial resources and time constraints, the study is confirmed to education as an effective instrument to grassroot development in Oyi local government area of Anambra state were randomly selected clans from the local government area were used for the study.

Research Design

In the course of examining the relationship between education and grassroot development of the communities which cut across the entire population that is made up of civil servants and private sector, survey design method was employed. The magnitude of the relationship between the dependent variable (grassroot development) and independent variable (education) of the study is determined through this research design. The research was able to use the survey design to draw samples from the population for an explanatory study of relationship between education and grassroot development. The survey design was adopted due to the dispersed nature of the village from one to another.

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