Implementation problems of cost sharing program in universities in Snnpr
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Date
2007-08
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Cost sharing program as a source of financing higher education was introduced
to Ethiopia in 2003/04. It was aimed at improving access, quality and efficiency
of teaching learning process in the country. Hence, all students who join
institutions of higher learning were obliged to cover full costs related with'
bo'arding and lodging and a minimum of 15 percent of tuition related costs.
The purpose of this study was, therefore, to identify the major implementation
problems of cost sharing program in universities in •SNNPR. The universities
included in this study were Hawassa University, Arbaminch University, and Dilla
University. In this study descriptive survey method was employed to conduct the
study. Thus, 392 students and 34 administrators were selected by using
stratified sampling and availability sampling techniques respectively. The
instruments used in this study to gather data were research questionnaire and
interview. Questionnaires were distributed to 392 students and 34
administrators while interview was conducted with 3 reform officers and 8 acting
loan officers. The data collected was analyzed using statistical tools such as
percentage, mean and t-tes t.
The findings of the study revealed that the majority of students agreed on the
need to share educational costs and were convinced that those who benefited
from education should share educational costs. The study also revealed that the
mechanisms applied in higher education cost sharing program were appropriate.
The findings further revealed that students and administrators reaction towards
the management of cost sharing scheme was negative. Another finding of this
study showed that the introduction of cost sharing did not bring required changes
in the teaching learning process and students' services. Finally, lack of
awareness of students, low participation of students and stakeholders in the
designing and implementation of the scheme, shortage of finance and manpower
to run the system, lack of coordination and inexistence of responsible body to
manage the scheme were identified as the major problems the s cheme
implementation process encountered.
In light of these findings, the following recommendations were forwarded:
organizing orientation programs to the university community so that it helps to
create awareness about the scheme objectives and benefits, strengthening the
link between universities and enterprises to generate additional income,
assigning an independent body to follow and manage the scheme in the
universities, and involving student representatives and stakeholders in the
implementation process of the scheme .
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Keywords
Education