The Relationship Between Private Cost and Students Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Education system is faced with inexorable financial crisis in Ekiti State. In spite increased budgetary
allocations, it seems as if the Government do not meet all the demand of school caused by enormous cost
of education services delivery, vis-à-vis sectorial competition resulting from pressure of other social,
economic and political services of the government. In an attempt to seek alternative source of finance of
education resolved to partially devolve financing of secondary education to parents not minding their
income levels coupled with other financial burden. The study is to find the relationship between private cost
and students’ academic performance in the State. Two research questions were rapsed and a null
hypothesis formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a survey design. is 1,000 students and 50
principals were the respondents to for the research instrument titled Secondary Education Private Cost
and Students Academic Performance Questionnaire (SEPCSAPQ study. the mean (X) were used to
determine the unit private cost percentage scores were used to find level of students academic performance
while correlation analysis of Pearson-product moment correlation technique (r) was used to test the null
hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. the study revealed that parents still exert great influence in
preparing and making students to stay in schools. The study further revealed that poor performance of
students in their public examination is real and the reported level of students’ performance may not be a
good reflection of the private cost. And that there was no significant relationship between private Unit cost
per student of Secondary education and students’ academic performance in secondary schools in the State
It was recommended that. There is need to increase budgetary allocation for secondary education in the
state. Material resources in schools should be adequately provided in all secondary schools in the zone and
education resource centers should be established in all the Local Government Area headquarters by the
state governments and teachers participation in staff development programs such as competency test,
exchange teaching, and professional writing, must be given prominent attention in secondary schools in
the state