EXTENT OF APPLICATION OF COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL MATHEMATICAL CENTRE, ABUJA: IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent of application of cost benefit analysis by administrators of National Mathematics Centre, and to determine the implications for development of mathematics education in Nigeria. The design adopted in this study was descriptive survey design. This study was carried out in Abuja. Proportionate and simple random sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 466 respondents made up of 46 NMC Abuja staff and 420 mathematics educators within Abuja. An adapted questionnaire titled “Questionnaire on Application of Cost Benefit Analysis in the Management of National Mathematics Centre, Abuja” was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three research experts. Using the Cronbach’s Alpha method, the instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of .83. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question while z-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Major findings of the study revealed that the administrators of National Mathematics Centre apply cost benefit analysis to a great extent and this will ultimately result in development of mathematics education in particular and mathematical sciences in general. It was therefore recommended among others that administrators of National Mathematics Centre should be encouraged by the government to continue applying cost benefit analysis in the management of the Centre.