EXTENT TETFUND FUNDING OF PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT HAS IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Federal College of Education Technical, Isu Ebonyi State of Nigeria.

Abstract

Higher education is a key factor in the development of any nation as its quality can determine the level of a nation's capacity for progress and growth. However, funding of physical infrastructure and equipment for higher education facilities has been a perennial challenge in Nigeria. As part of its efforts towards achieving quality, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has been involved in the provision of infrastructural and equipment grants to higher institutions in the country. This study, therefore, examines the extent of TETFund funding of physical infrastructure and equipment and its impact on the quality of higher education in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The descriptive research design was adopted for the study. A population of  1,372 lecturers from three Higher Institutions in Ebonyi State. A sample of 230 respondents was selected for the study through the multi-stage sampling technique from the two universities and Colleges of Education in Ebonyi State. Data were collected through structured questionnaire instrument and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages. The results of the study revealed that the level of TETFund funding of physical infrastructure and equipment was generally adequate in all the higher institutions in the state. The study also revealed that there has been a significant increase in the quality of higher education in Ebonyi State as a result of the funding. The study concluded that TETFund interventions have had a positive impact on the quality of higher education in Ebonyi State. The study therefore recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria should increase the level of TETFund funding of physical infrastructure and equipment for higher institutions in the state as one of the measures of improving the quality of higher education.