EFFECT OF POOR FUNDING ON THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF RESEARCH METHOD IN NIGERIAN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of poor funding on the teaching and learning of research methods in Colleges of Education across South-East Nigeria. Research instruction serves as a critical foundation for developing inquiry-oriented teachers capable of generating and applying evidence-based knowledge in classrooms. However, the quality of research training in most Nigerian Colleges of Education has continued to decline, largely due to insufficient funding and inadequate infrastructural support. Using a descriptive survey design, this study gathered data from 500 respondents comprising 200 lecturers and 300 students from ten Colleges of Education in the region. The results showed that 75 percent of lecturers and 68 percent of students identified lack of adequate funding as the primary barrier to effective teaching and learning of research methods. Furthermore, 81 percent of respondents reported that restricted access to current journals, research databases, and ICT tools limited their ability to apply contemporary research techniques. Findings also revealed that lecturers’ motivation to engage in research was weakened by the absence of institutional research grants, workshops, and incentives. Consequently, students’ research projects often lacked methodological rigor, data validity, and originality. The study argues that poor funding does not only reduce the availability of teaching and learning resources but also undermines the institutional culture of research inquiry. It concludes that the observed deficiencies threaten the professional quality of teacher education and by extension, the future of educational research in Nigeria. The paper recommends that government and tertiary education funding agencies such as TETFund should increase research allocations, upgrade ICT facilities, and encourage partnerships that promote capacity-building and sustainable research development. By prioritizing adequate funding, Colleges of Education in South-East Nigeria can significantly improve both the pedagogy and outcomes of research methods instruction.