THE EFFECT OF THE GROWTH OF TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN IMO STATE

Thesis Overview

Background of the StudyIn the Nigeria education system we have three basic levels of education, namely, the primary post primary and tertiary levels.The tertiary level has to do with the education beyond the post primary level. Thus, the tertiary institutions are institution that provide higher education and are concerned with the education and training of middle level and high of manpower.Before 1970, five universities namely university of Ibadan (UI), University of Lagos (Unilag), University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) and University of Benin (Uniben). College of Education were found in the country with the emergence oil boom in the 1970’s and the creation of nineteen states structure in 1976. more federal and state tertiary institutions were established in different parts of the country as time went on. The trend has continued to the present day where there are thirty – two (32) universities, about forty (40) polytechnics and fifty (50) colleges of education. It canbe said that every state in the federation has its own college of education and polytechnics, in addition to the federal – owned ones. Based on this it could be concluded that there has been a remarkable growth in the number of tertiary institutions in the country and certainly presumable, this must have had some effects on the Nigeria economy. Such growth of education facilities and infrastructure is bound to have both positive and negative effects on the teachers and students in the one hand, and the Nigerian society on the other.The growth of tertiary institutions in the country may lead to overall development of the country and with such growth, of level of literacy will increase, the growth of higher institution may also lead to adequate production and availability of high level manpower. It is expected or anticipated that such growth of a higher institution may lead to some savings, in the nations foreign exchange, which could have been used in importing foreign technical know – how. On the other hand rapid growth in the number of tertiary institution. In some cases it may create the problem of scurity of manpower to man our students such growth may have some effects in the socio economic and political life of the country.Since the effect of growth have not been determined, it is, therefore, important that an investigation be carried out with a view to determining the actual effect in Nigerian society. It is for this reason that this study is being carried.1.2   Statement of ProblemWith rapid growth in the number of tertiary institutions in the country, there has been call for the improvement in the quality of higher education as well. Some schools of thought believe that the emergence of more tertiary institutions in the country has watered down the quality of higher education and the products of the programmes. Some people believe that the growth of tertiary institutions has contributed to the scarcity of lectures in the institution. Whereas much attention has been focused on the negative effects of the growth of higher educational institutions in the country, not much attention has, however, been directed on the positive aspect of benefits of such growth.It is against this background that a study of this nature has to be carried out to determine the actual positive and negative effect of growth of tertiary institution on the students, teachers, administrators and the Nigerian society. What exists are more speculation of the effects, which have no empirical value. A purposeful investigation into the effects of such is therefore, necessary.However, Nigeria, as one of the third world countries has great feeling or enthusiasm on proliferating universities both federal and state without first considering their standard or products. No restrictions are placed on higher education with the result that the proportion of failures of these higher institution are very high. Mass failures and the general lowering of academic standards tend to lower the efficiency of the graduate products to be employed both in private and public sectors.Objective of the StudyThis study is intended to achieve the following objectives.

• To determine the number of tertiary institution in Imo State and ascertain the rate of their growth overtime.
• To determine the ownership of such institutions.
• To ascertains the effects of the growth of tertiary institutions in Imo State on the quantity and quality of the graduates’ products from there.
• To find out the effects of such growth on the general level of education in the State.
• To determine the effects of the growth on the provision of manpower in the State and Nigeria in general.
• To ascertain the effects of the growth on the socio – economic and political life of the State.
• To recommend the ways of controlling the growth of tertiary institution in the State so as derive the greatest benefit from it.

1.4   HypothesisIn carrying out this study, the following were formulated.Ho:   the growth of tertiary institutions in the State was not brought improvement in the general level of education in the State.Hi:   the growth of tertiary institutions in the State has brought about improvement in the general level of education in the State.Scope and limitation of the studyThe study is limited to Imo State and the focus on all the tertiary institutions in the State with Alvan Ikoku as the case study. The study will be limited to the effects of the growth of tertiary institution in Imo State.The effects on the growth of students, teachers, the management and the general society will be studies.Significance of the StudyIn studying the importance of tertiary institution we first know the number of the tertiary institutions in the State and also we have to know there economic effect, that is how the Government is helping in finding their educational requirements.It will also recommend the ways of controlling the growth of tertiary institutions in the State so as to drive the greatest benefit from it. It will lead to knowing how the ownership of those institutions is helping in upgrading the high standard of students.This will also serve as stepping stone to related researchers in the future, that is helping researchers in future in getting some related facts for there research work. They also help in informing Government and assist them in policy making.