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Returns on Investment in Children’s Education in Selected Households, Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Lubo Ebisine, PhD, Yague, Tubikumo James

Abstract

This study focuses on returns on investment in children’s education with special reference to households in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study adopts the descriptive survey method. The sample size is 280 randomly selected from the various households. The study employs relevant descriptive statistical tools to present results of responses got from the households. The data were statistically analyzed using chi-square (X2) model. Among the major findings of the study are that: household’s costs of investment in children’s education are quite high for a child in the university. These costs do not include books and other learning materials, lodging/accommodation, etc. as the case may be, but are only for school fees and levies. This is the situation if the child attends government tuition free school as headmasters, principals and other similar school heads charge illegal fees and levies; Another finding is that there is high households rate of returns on investment in children’s education about 28.1 at the primary school level, 21.2 at the junior secondary school level, 15.0 at the senior secondary school level, 12.0 and 11.15 at the polytechnic and university (B.Sc.) levels respectively. Again, the study also finds out that there are some households that do not invest in their children’s education for various reasons such as low income, being ignorant of returns to education, little or no chances of being gainfully employed after completing education etc. Based on the findings the study recommended that: government and civil organization should initiate and embark on aggressive household to household sensitization to raise the level of awareness of the importance of investment in children children’s education. Households should make investment in children’s education uppermost in their priority of investment choices; Since education is free at the basic level, headmasters and principals should be strictly monitored and sanctioned accordingly if found charging illegal fees and levies for children’s education.

Keywords

Returns on investmentChildren’s educationHouseholdsEducational expenditureChi-square analysisSchool fees and levies

References

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