Background Information
Education according to Longman Dictionary is defined as “the teaching or the training of mind and character”. Education is the cynosure of ever society’s socio-culture development. The viability of any sector of every nation’s growth depends on the educational base.
Training institutions education in Nigeria has remained the bedrock of the country’s educational sector though the aim and objective of education have changed with the development needs of the central government, the fact still remain that education in polytechnics and colleges of education level makes the greatest impact in the life of the nation.
Education is also one of the vital instruments in development. According to the national policy on education (1997) “education in Nigeria is an instrument per excellent” for effecting national development. What Nigeria needs in 21st century to turn her economy around is not extended polytechnics and colleges of education but a basic education that will ensure that every Nigeria youth graduate is sufficiently equipped with knowledge, skills and experience required for work, whether polytechnics or colleges of education bound or not (Anyabelu, 2000).
It is need that has call for government commitment to the case of higher education since the colonial time, till date. The quantum and quality if educational facilities, indicate the level of development of any nation. It is therefore expected that the provision and management of these facilities will assume prominence as well as constitute a challenge in nation particularly a developing country like Nigeria.
In Nigeria, enough emphasis has not been placed on physical planning, input in the sitting, distributing and development of public facilities even though it is the major determinant of the overall level of efficiency of the service delivery instead greater emphasis has been placed on financial administrative and political considerations.
The assessment of the efficiency of service delivery can be used to determine the overall effect of prevailing practice in facilitates provision. The planning and provision of educational facilities needs to be based on sound practical planning inputs (standards, principles and concepts) as they relate to unique urban situation. This is to avoid the problems of inadequacy, poor location, wastage etc. Variables such as population threshold, distance as well as social economic variables are used in determine the distribution and management of the services. The provision and management of these facilities will assume prominence as well as constitute a challenge in any nation particularly in a developing country like ours.
Polytechnics and colleges of education in Kogi State has a substantial level of investment in educational facilities, but there is indication of inadequate poor standard. There are indications of problems which include the shortage of qualified lecturers personnel, inadequacy of academic facilities (such as lecture halls, laboratories and social hall) which affect the productivity of education in Kogi State Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Idah, College of Education Okene and Kogi State College of Education Ankpa.
The study involves the analysis of the vocational attributes and disteeribution characteristics of these educational facilities. The extent to which it affect the quality of service provided using population size, location standard etc. As indicated. The impact of physical planning inputs on the outcome of investment in the educational facilities provision need to be examined.