Household Education Financing and Human Capital Development among Senior Secondary School Students in Cross River State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined household education financing and human capital development among senior secondary school students in Cross River State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the influence of the payment of school fees, the funding of extra lessons/coaching, and the financing of ICT/internet on vocational skill development and career preparedness among students. Four hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised all senior secondary school students and their parents/guardians in secondary schools in Cross River State, with an accessible population of 6, 615 students. A multi- stage sampling technique was used to select 480 respondents. Data were collected using a structured instrument titled the Household Education Financing and Human Capital Development Questionnaire (HEFHCDQ). The instrument was validated by three experts from the University of Calabar, and a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.83 was obtained. Collected data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, simple regression, multivariate regression, and multiple regression analyses at the 0. 05 level of significance. Findings revealed that payment of school fees significantly influenced vocational skill development (R =. .642, p <. .05), funding of extra lessons/coaching significantly influenced career preparedness (R =. .691, p <. .05), and ICT and internet financing significantly influenced vocational skill development and career preparedness (R =. .718 and. .684, respectively, p <. .05). The study further revealed that household education financing variables jointly had a significant influence on human capital development among students (R =. .803, p <. .05). The study concluded that adequate household educational financing enhances students’ vocational competencies and career preparedness. It was recommended, among other measures, that parents ensure the regular payment of school fees, while the government and educational stakeholders provide subsidized coaching programmes and improved ICT/internet facilities for students.