THE IMPACT OF UNIVERSITY TUITION FEE INCREASE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF TERTIARY STUDENTS ( A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA STATE UNIVERSITY)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Universities all around the world are still dealing with significant problems that have disastrous consequences for educational practice. The vice-chancellors of Australia's Top Eight Universities voted for increased tuition and student shrinking, according to the Guardian (2012). According to the Telegraph (2013), universities in the United Kingdom As a result of the price increase in 2013, the number of applications dropped by 18,000 people. They think that higher tuition will push students away from prestigious colleges and toward less prestigious institutions. According to the Independent Commission on Fees (2013), there has been a "marked decrease" in the number of English students seeking for admission. The issue is especially prevalent in poorer nations, particularly Africa. National universities in Nigeria have struggled with problems such as admission, housing, teaching programs, student unionism, financing, and other issues since their establishment. Many African leaders invested a significant amount of their budgets on education. Scholarships and grants were given to deserving organizations. Many of them had ties to developed countries in the hopes of developing a well-educated and trained workforce to help run their countries' affairs. This was short-lived, as military rule came into effect soon after independence, bringing with it "sweeping reforms" that have had a negative impact on scholarly productivity. The government eliminated all university student subsidies and required full payment of fees. The “Ali must go” saga, which rocked Nigerian universities in 1978, was at the time. Students went to the streets to protest. Students and even citizens were shot and killed by the military regime. As a result, a new era started, in which contractors took over the cooking and serving of meals for excessive fees. The result was disastrous. Students were forced to pay for all of the food they purchased, as well as increased tuition and housing costs. Globalisation pressures started to emerge in the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during this period, dragging Nigeria into debt. Nigeria's local or domestic indebtedness has grown to N6 trillion to date, according to Chima (2014), whereas the latest repayments on foreign debt, a long term + IMF in Nigeria were $274,025,000 as of 2011, according to World Bank International Debt Statistics. Inequalities were created as a result of globalization, and educational policies were reframed, particularly at the higher education level. It was claimed that since a postgraduate degree is for personal development, it should be paid for down to the last penny. The cost of attending school has risen dramatically. Hostel rooms, which cost N2, 090 in the 1990s, now cost N20, 000. Inadequate financing has been a major problem in the educational system since then. Due to a lack of financing, deterioration and dilapidation of the limited remaining facilities and infrastructure have set in. The classrooms are subpar and woefully insufficient. Traditional teaching and learning methods remain, but 21st-century learning methods are glaringly absent. The lack of equipment, particularly for information communication technology (ICT), has rendered 21st-century teaching and learning methods unfeasible. Attempts by universities to create money internally to cover some of the shortfalls have resulted in certain difficulties that have had a detrimental effect on students and their programs.

1.2 Statement of research problem

At the turn of the century, rising fees were a major impediment to access to high-quality education in Nigeria. According to Okeke (2008), access to education in its broadest meaning implies having open and unrestricted chances to acquire information and skills abilities at each level of education. Strike activities, which have become a regular element in the Nigerian educational system, have caused disruptions in teaching and learning as well as changes in the academic calendar. Strikes and student protests have caused significant difficulties for the system and its parties. Money has been a significant factor in most strikes and student protests. Shua'ara (2010) identified the following financing sources for public higher education institutions (HEIS): (a) allocation from government regular intervention-Education Trust Fund (ETF), NDDC, PTDF, IDAS; (b) internally produced income (fees, other miscellaneous charges); and (c) gifts, endowments. Nigeria is nowhere near the UNESCO standard of 26%, according to the report. Universities are urged to raise money from inside their own institutions to supplement government subsidies. The most frequent solution has been to raise fees. In the 1990s, PhD students paid less than N20,000; now, they spend N189,000 plus additional fees. The nation has pushed universities to raise fees in order to service external debt and internal burdens (outcomes of globalisation), which has a negative impact and serious implications for education, particularly in the twenty-first century. Since the 1990s, fees have steadily increased, affecting many students who have been unable to continue in their programs or who are hesitant to pursue postgraduate (PG) degrees due to high school fees. As a result, some students have turned to off-campus housing, where they have been raped, assaulted, and killed. This study looked at the Fees Increase at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, where many students are working and sponsoring themselves while attempting to cope with the rising fees. Others simply decide to enroll in PG after years of unemployment or underemployment. Increased fees are anathema to such people. Strikes by others extend the length of their program, resulting in higher fees. Due to rising fees, some students had to drop out of the program. These are uncomfortable circumstances that make it difficult for students to focus on their studies. The purpose of this research was to determine the impact of increased fees on undergraduate and postgraduate students' programs, as well as the implications for Nigerian education in the twenty-first century. The study investigated the issues surrounding fee increases, the extent to which fee increases have impacted students' academics and smooth program continuation, and the implications for 21st century education.

1.3       Objectives of the study

The primary objective of the study is as follows

1.     To find out the reason for the increment in tuition fee in Kaduna state university

2.     To find out the extent to which fee increase has impacted on students academic performance in Kaduna state university

3.     To find out the implication of tuition fee increment on the 21st century education

1.4       Research questions

1.     What are the reasons for the increment in tuition fee in Kaduna state university?

2.     To what extent has fee increase impacted on students academic performance in Kaduna state university

3.     What are the implications of tuition fee increment on the 21st century education?

1.5       Significance of the study

The significance of this study cannot be underestimated as:

l  This study will examine  the impact of University tuition fee increase and academic performance of tertiary students ( a case study of Kaduna State University)

l  The findings of this research work will undoubtedly provide the much needed information to government organizations,  education board and academia.

1.6       Scope of the study

This study examines The impact of University tuition fee increase on academic performance of tertiary students. Hence, Kaduna state university will be used as case study.

1.7       Limitations of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data

Financial constraint , was faced by  the researcher ,in getting relevant materials  and  in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher

1.8       Operational definition of terms

Tuition fees: the money that you pay to be taught, especially in a college or university.

Academic performance; the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has attained their short or long-term educational goals.