Perceived Influence of Geopolitical Balancing on Educational Development in Bauchi State

Abstract

The paper focused on Perceived Politics of geo-political balancing on educational development in Bauchi state. The study adopted qualitative research design using case study method. Three specific objectives and three research questions were used to guide the study. The population consisted of 37 senior educational administrators from all the state’s tertiary institutions in the three geo-political zones of Bauchi state. The study had a sample of respondents drawn from the population using purposive sampling technique. The numbers that constituted the sample size were three (3) and drawn from College of Education Azare, College for Legal and Islamic Studies Misau and College of Education Kangere within the three educational zones or Senatorial Districts of Bauchi state. Area of the study is Bauchi state. Semi-structured interview, observation and document analysis were used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using content and thematic analyses to answer the research questions of this study. The results of the study were discussed in details from interviews and triangulated with the findings made from observations and documents. Based on the findings, it was concluded that politics affects educational development geo-politically either positively or negatively. It was recommended among others that politics of geo-political balancing should be done bearing in mind rationale economic calculus for educational development. Politics of geo-political balancing should be intended to improved educational development and not the other way round. In spite of these, the politics of geo-political balancing in education has made it difficult to properly plans and administer educational policies and management which has affected the enrolments, federal character policies, control of education, curriculum development and implementation, school facilities, teaching and non-teaching personnel among others. It is hoped that the recommendations would serves as solutions towards the politics of geo-political balancing on educational development in Bauchi state.