Analysis of Provision of Education Infrastructure and Its Challenges in Ethiopia, The Case of Gimbi Town Primary Schools (Oromia Region)

Abstract

Education is one of the most infrastructures, which is a prerequisite to the socio-economic and environmental development of a country.  The objective of this study was to examine the status of the provision of quality education, identify problems hindering its provision and ultimately to suggest some intervening strategies to improve its provision. The study was conducted to meet the stated objectives and hence to do so, 125 teachers’ respondents were randomly selected to provide detail information. Moreover, 30 individuals whose day to day activities are related to education were purposively selected to provide further information. In short, 155 respondents were selected, which were expected to provide information relevant to the intended objective of the study. Moreover, the existing educational infrastructure, the styles of services provided and existing facilities in Gimbi town were observed. The result of the study reveals the existing demand is not proportional to the expected educational services and facilities. There is shortage of adequate schools, classrooms, instructional materials, teaching aids, well qualified and committed teachers and financial resources that limited access and coverage of the primary schools. Weak institutional capacity, population growth due to rapid urbanization, low stakeholders’ participation, lack of motivation particularly of teachers and directors, lack of skilled manpower, inadequacy of educational facilities and above all lack of financial resources contributed a lot for the inadequate provision of educational services in the study area. These problems led to high dropout and repetition rate, poor quality of education and above all, poor academic performance. To improve this conditions, the study has come up with the possibilities of allocating adequate financial resources, constructing additional schools and classrooms in some of the existing primary schools, employing skilled manpower, improving access and the quality of education and involving all stakeholders as partners of the local government so as to improve the coverage and quality of educational services and facilities in Gimbi town primary schools.

Keywords: Education, Educational Inputs, Educational Quality, Education Infrastructure, Instructional Materials, Primary Schools, Standard.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-25-01

Publication date:September 30^th 2019