Higher Education Financing In Gombe State, Nigeria: Demand For Cost-Sharing.

Abstract

The focus of this study is on the user fees and its implications for household in terms of the ability and willingness to pay for the cost of higher education in Gombe State Nigeria. To this end, three research questions were posed to address the focus of the study. The study’s population thus comprised households in Gombe State, Nigeria. In all, the study sample comprised 300 households. A Questionnaire was used. Data analysis was through simple frequency counts, percentages and chi square statistics. The results indicate that the average income of households in Gombe State is 15, 330 Naira ($92.9) and 75.7% earn less than N50, 000 about $303 per month. Considering that the average cost of graduate production in a year is estimated to be 78,000 naira ($472), the study thus inferred that many households in Gombe State may not have the ability to pay for higher education. The study thus suggests that government would need to continue to shoulder the responsibility of providing higher education in Gombe State Nigeria and the need to explore other means of cost recovery and financing of HE in Gombe State asides increment of user fees may need to be considered.