Reducing Educational Wastage To Regenerate Nigerian Higher Education For National Development In Enugu State
Rev. Fr. Dr. Onubuleze Franklin Kelechi
Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education. Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu, Nigeria.
Abstract
The study investigated ways of reducing educational wastage to regenerate Nigerian higher education for national development in Enugu State with particular reference to university administration, involvement of qualified lecturers and the improvement of lecturers’ condition of service. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The researcher adopted descriptive survey research design for the study. The researcher made used of 58 lecturers and 326 students in University of Nigeria Nsukka. The instrument for data collection was a researcher structured questionnaire. Three experts in the Faculty of Education ESUT validated the instrument. The instrument comprised 16 items allocated to each of the three research questions. To ensure the reliability of the instrument, a trial test was conducted on 10 lecturers and 30 students. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha method with reliability indices of 0.76, 0.82 and 0.79 and a reliability index of 0.79. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation to respond to the research questions while the null hypotheses were tested using t-test. The findings of the study revealed that, university administration, involvement of qualified lecturers as well as improving the condition of service of lecturers are ways of reducing educational wastage to regenerate Nigerian higher education for national development. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that universities should endeavour to improve on their delivery of university activities in order to improve the internal efficiency of the institutions. The university’s management should employ lecturers who are highly qualified in their specific areas.