CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

In Nigeria as well as in other countries, education is perceived as a tool for socio-economic and political developments and as such it is accorded the necessary attention. This position is amplified in the Nigerian National Policy on Education, which stated that education is an instrument par excellence for effecting national development, (The National Policy of Education, 2004). It is added further that education shall continue to be highly rated in the national development plans because education is the most important instrument of change and that any fundamental change in the intellectual and social outlook of any society has to be preceded by educational revolution.

Recent study by Jekayinka (1998), Suleman Atiku (1997), Ajayi and Ayodele (2001), proved that adequate supply of instructional resources has significant effects on student’s performances and enhances the effectiveness of instructional delivery and supervision.

However, there seems to be in Nigerian schools an alarming shortage and even complete absence of labouratory facilities. UNESCO (1998), further stressed that monitoring of learning achievement report on the available instructional materials and facilities in the 960 sample secondary schools across the country revealed. An NUC report as cited by ESCO (1998) stated that academic and physical facilities were in the deplorable states with insufficient lectures theaters/hall, laboratories and so on.

Thus, one begins to wonder how some of these universities scale the accreditation hurdle. That is why Ijaiya (2001) opined that the quality of education being provided for the Nigerian child has become of concern and lamented on the rot in the educational system. Also, Adeyemi and Igbenewaka (2001) observed that mismatch between growing enrolment and provision of facilities especially in respect of seats for students leads to overcrowding. He added that overcrowding creates undue stress on available space and results in the creation of rowdy behaviours, hanging outside the classrooms, and absence from activities around school premises. All these have negative effects on teaching and learning process.