ECONOMIC CRISIS IMPACT ON EDUCATION AND TEACHERS: CASE STUDY OF SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

The quality of politics determines the quality of education policies, programmes, processes and eventually the products (or results, or outcomes). Government under funding and commoditisation of education has been noted to be one of the major causes of crisis in education. The recent economic crisis confronted by the Nigerian governments has led to the non-payment of teachers salary for several months with a resultant effects of teachers demoralisation, incessant strikes, protests and school closures. The reduction in government budgets for education to take care of other sectors would continue to worsen educational developments in sub-Sahara region of Africa if education is not being given the required and needed attention.

Educational promotion can alleviate poverty and unemployment being confronted by many developing countries of the world and reduce deterioration of human capital at the long run. The reduction in governments budgetary allocation on education has negative impacts not only on teachers but also on students and families.

The collected survey data shows that the recent economic crisis had an observable negative impact on educational sector and on the central education budgets of various states.

In conclusion, development of education on pre-primary, primary and secondary education, tertiary education and vocational education would alleviate unemployment, some states need to adjust their budgetary allocations to favour educational sector in order to avoid crisis. Teachers must engage in self development and training, strengthen their organisations, serve as models of prudent resource management, offer leadership by example.