Corruption and the Quality of Education in Public Primary Schools in Nebbi Town Council, Nebbi District Uganda

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to find out how corruption has affected the quality of education in public primary schools of Nebbi Town Council, Nebbi District, In order to attain this purpose, three research objectives were formulated and these included: to assess the level of corruption in education sector in Nebbi Town Council; to examine the quality of education in public primary schools of Nebbi Town Council; to determine the extent to which corruption impacts on the quality of education in public primary schools of Nebbi Town Council; to identify local based strategies to deal with corruption and promote quality of education in Nebbi Town Council. The research used case study design and also found triangulation very important because, quantitative data like number of reports submitted were measured numerically. A sample size for this study was 386 respondents and this was got from a total population of 11149. The sampling technique used in this study was simple random sampling and data collection was done through interviews and structured questionnaires which were self-administered to respondents. The validity and reliability of the research instruments was determined through expert judgment and test and retest. The statistical parameters used in data processing and analysis were as follows: The mean, pears and linear correlations coefficient and regression analysis for the influence of independent variable on dependent variable. The research findings reveal that the level of corruption inform of misappropriation of funds, embezzlement of funds, bribery and favoritism and nepotism was generally high (overall mean average of 2.65); the quality of education as regards to enrolment ratio, learning of basic cognitive skills, literacy and numeracy skills, retention rate, classroom activities and school activities was generally low (overall mean average of 2.39); finally, this study found out that any unit increase in the level of corruption leads to reduction in the quality of education in public primary schools in Nebbi Town Council (r. value of 0.799; p~ 0.000). The study concludes that the level of corruption in education sector in Nebbi Town Council is generally high; it was also concluded that the quality of education in public primary schools in Nebbi Town Council is generally low; the study finally concludes that increase in corruption will reduce the quality of education in public primary schools by 79.9 %. T1” ~tudy recommends that further training of school administrators on relevant accounting packages and book keeping skills should be done by the ministry of education; local government officials should also work hand in hand with Parent-Teachers Associations in all public primary schools such that they can frequently monitor school budgets and program implementations; the level of autonomous granted to school administrators especially the head teachers in handling public funds should be reduced by the ministry of education and sports: open advertisement and bidding for school activities should be emphasized and adhered to without any compromise. To improve on the quality of education, the school administrators should emphasize enrolment of pupils on the basis of teacher-pupil ration and school infrastructure adequacy in public primary schools: the current curriculum should also be revised by the ministry of education such that pupils’ abilities to develop basic cognitive skills are seriously taken care of; literacy and numeracy skills among pupils should be promoted by the ministry of education by providing reading text books of various levels; provision of meals at schools for every pupil should be considered; cultural barriers that limit girls’ retention at schools should also be broken through sensitization of local community members in the area.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION A

DECLARATION B

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES x

ABSTRACT xi

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the Study I

.1.1 Historical Perspective 1

.1.2 Theoretical Perspective 3

1 .1.3 Conceptual Perspective 3

1 .1 .4 Contextual Perspective 4

1.2 Problem Statement 6

1 .3 Purpose ofthe Study 6

1 .4 Research objectives 6

1.5 Research Questions 7

1 .6 Research hypothesis 7

1 .7 Scope of the Study 7

1 .7.1 Geographical Scope 7

1 .7.2 Content scope 7

1 .7.3 Theoretical Scope S

1.7.4 Time Scope 8

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1.8 Significance of the Study .8

1.9 Definition of Key Terms 9

CHAPTER TWO 10

LITERATURE REVIEW 10

2.0 Introduction 10

2.1 Theoretical Review 10

2.2 Conceptual Framework 11

2.3 Corruption in Education Sector 12

2.4 Quality of Education 16

2.5 Effect of Corruption on the Quality of Education 18

2.6 Gaps in the Existing Literature 20

CHAPTER THREE 21

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 21

3.0 Introduction 21

3.1 Research Design 21

3.2 Study Population 21

3.3 Sample Size 21

Table 3.1: Population Size and Sample Size 22

3.4. Sampling Techniques 22

3.5 Data Collection Instruments 22

3.5.1 Questionnaire Survey 22

3.5.2 Interview Guide 23

3.6. Research Procedure 23

3.7. Validity and Reliability of Instrument 24

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3.8. Data Processing and Analysis 25

3.9. Ethical Consideration 26

3.10 Limitations of the Study 26

CHAPTER FOUR 27

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 27

4.0 Introduction 27

4.1: Demographic Characteristics of Respondents 27

4.2 Level of Corruption in Education Sector in Nebbi Town Council 29

4.3 Quality of education in public primary schools ofNebbi Town Council 32

4.4 Relationship between corruption and the quality of education in public primary schools ofNebbi

Town Council 37

CHAPTER FIVE 40

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 40

5.0 Introduction 40

5.1 Discussion of Findings 40

5.1.1 Level of Corruption in Education Sector in Nebbi Town Council 40

5.1.2 Quality of Education in Public Primary Schools in Nebbi Town Council 41

5.1.3 Relationship between corruption and the quality of education in Public Primary schools of

Nebbi Town Council 43

5.2 Conclusions 44

5.3 Recommendations 45

5.3.1 Recommendations to Curb Corruption in Education Sector in Nebbi Town Council 45

5.3.2 Recommendation to Improve the Quality of Education in Public Primary Schools in Nebbi

Town Council 46

5.3.3 Recommendation to Reduce Cases of Corruption so as to improve on the Quality of Education

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