School-Community Partnership and Its Effect on Science Resource Mobilisation in Secondary Schools in Benue State

This study assessed the influence of school-community partnership on science resource mobilisation in secondary schools in Benue State, Nigeria. Formal and informal collaborations between schools and their communities represent an underexplored channel for supplementing government resource allocation to Science education, particularly in states where public funding for educational infrastructure remains limited. A descriptive survey design was adopted. Data were collected from 160 school principals, 200 Science teachers, and 120 community stakeholders, including PTA chairpersons and local government councillors, from secondary schools in Makurdi, Otukpo, and Gboko Local Government Areas. A School-Community Partnership Index and a Science Resource Availability Checklist were used as instruments, validated by education management experts with a combined reliability of 0.80. Multiple regression and descriptive statistics were applied in data analysis. Results showed that the strength of school-community partnerships was a significant predictor of science resource availability, accounting for approximately 28 percent of variance in resource levels. Schools with active alumni associations and supportive community leaders demonstrated higher laboratory equipment indices. Recommended strategies included formalising partnership memoranda of understanding, establishing annual community science days, and recognising community contributors in school events. Keywords: school-community partnership, resource mobilisation, Science education, Benue State, secondary schools.