IMPACT OF EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL PLANNING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the impact of effective educational planning on economic development in Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted with a population of 3,850 comprising educational planners, lecturers in educational management and officials of planning agencies. A sample of 400 was selected using multi-stage sampling and 382 copies of the questionnaire titled Effective Educational Planning and Economic Development Questionnaire were retrieved. Instrument validated by experts had reliability index of 0.86 using Cronbach Alpha. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions and Chi-square to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed low extent of effective educational planning in Nigeria with cluster mean of 2.26, curriculum and manpower planning (3.46), access and equity planning (3.29), funding and infrastructure planning (3.41) and various challenges (3.58) significantly influence economic development. Chi-square values of 48.72 greater than critical value 16.92 led to rejection of all null hypotheses, confirming significant relationship. The study concluded that effective educational planning is critical to economic development but hampered by poor data, funding and policy inconsistency. It recommended establishment of functional EMIS for data-driven planning and increased funding to UNESCO benchmark with stronger industry linkage.