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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Education

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