Impact of Cash Scarcity and Hike in Fuel Price on Teachers’' Productivity in Secondary Schools in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the impacts of cash scarcity and hike in fuel price on teachers' productivity in secondary schools in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The study adopted a descriptive survey method and included all teachers and principals from 10 public secondary schools. A questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents; a sample of one hundred (100) respondents was used for the study. Ten teachers were randomly selected from ten public secondary schools. The findings revealed that working under cash scarcity was frustrating, as teachers found it difficult to purchase the materials needed for academic duties. Also, a shortage of cash to buy necessary materials reduced the number of hours teachers spend in school and hindered unplanned purchases of educational materials, making teaching less effective. Furthermore, it was revealed that it is difficult for teachers who partially depend on fuel to research subject matter. This discourages teachers from being effective in their task, as they are unable to register or attend educational conferences. This results in teachers being emotionally unstable and unfriendly with everyone around them, including students. Teachers' disposition towards teaching and learning is diminished, and students' individual differences are hardly recognized.