Unit Cost of Wastages Among First Time Undergraduates in South-South Nigerian Public Universities

The study investigated the unit cost of wastages among first time undergraduates in South-South Nigerian public universities. Three research questions were raised and answered. The study adopted the descriptive research design, using the ex-post facto research design. The population of the study comprised of ten conventional universities in south-south Nigeria. One hundred and twelve (112) programmes in the universities and all first time undergraduate in the programmes. Stratified random sampling techniques was used in the selection of the sample for the study and six (6) programmes which represent 5% of one hundred and twelve programmes selected. An instrument tagged “Student Enrolment and Flow Information Checklist (SEAFICT) was used to collect data for the study. The checklist did not require reliability test therefore reliability test was not done for this study. Data collected were analysed descriptively using percentage, mean, rate, ratio and charts. The research questions were answered, therefore, no hypothesis were tested. The results among others revealed that the wastage rate among first time undergraduates in public universities in South-South Nigeria public universities were 11.51%, the probation rate was 8.0%, while withdrawal rate stood at 3.5%. based on the results, it was concluded that it is important for the university system to be more effective and efficient in the utilization of resources for maximum goal attainment in human capital production. It was recommended among others that there is need to improve on their production functions to reduce the wastage rates and cost among first-time undergraduate in the universities.

Keywords: Unit Cost, Wastage, First Time, Undergraduate, Public Universities