Rationalisation of Schools and Educational Quality in Ondo State

This study examines the effects of school rationalisation policies on educational quality in public secondary schools in Ondo State, South West Nigeria. School rationalisation, involving the merging, closing, or restructuring of schools to improve resource efficiency and reduce administrative fragmentation, has been implemented periodically across Nigerian states with varied outcomes. In Ondo State, rationalisation exercises have been accompanied by controversy regarding their impact on access, teacher welfare, and instructional quality. The study employs a descriptive survey design and samples 200 teachers, school administrators, and education officials from 30 schools affected by rationalisation in the last five years. Data are collected through questionnaires and in-depth interviews, and analysed with mean scores and thematic analysis. The study draws on the Resource-Based View of institutional management. Findings indicate that while rationalisation has in some cases improved per-school resource availability, it has also resulted in overcrowded classrooms, reduced geographic access in rural areas, and disrupted school communities. The quality of transition management, including transparent communication with stakeholders and adequate preparation of receiving schools, is found to be the critical determinant of rationalisation outcomes. Recommendations include the adoption of a comprehensive impact assessment framework prior to future rationalisation decisions in Ondo State. Keywords: school rationalisation, educational quality, resource management, school merger, Ondo State.