Consider these before you choose public or private university in Nigeria

No, university education is neither compulsory nor necessary to become successful.

However, attending a prestigious private university is a common goal among ambitious university-bound students in Nigeria. Why?

Popular opinion suggests that obtaining as little as a diploma from any one of these schools means you have reached the highest pinnacle of academic excellence.  However, attending a private university instead of a public one has its drawbacks, too. These drawbacks would be attended to next week.

From two private universities in 1999 to 69 in 2017 according to data from the National Universities Commission (NUC), consumers of education services are concerned about quality of university output with employers at the forefront lamenting the apparent poor quality of graduates.

Private universities provide students with many of the same educational and recreational programmes as public universities. However, there are many advantages of attending private universities, including customised attention, more career opportunities and lifelong benefits.

Private schools are often more prestigious, although this is highly dependent on the school. This can be an advantage for students when seeking jobs after graduation. However, public and private universities offer different programmes at various prices. Private schools provide bachelors and graduate-degree programmes, sometimes in combination. These take four or more years to achieve and can be expensive.

On the average, the following are the tuition fees for select private universities as at 2016:  Oduduwa University Ile Ife, Osun state, N164, 000.00, Rhema University, Aba, Abia state N313, 000.00 to N325, 000.00, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun state, N541, 000.00 to N571, 000.00, Babcock University Ilishan Remo, Ogun state, N340, 000.00 to N620, 000.00, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state, N650, 000.00 to N750, 000.

Others are Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state, N432,000.00, Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun state N450,000.00 to N480,000.00, American University Of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa state, N1,590,000.0, Achievers University, Owo, Ondo state N330,000.00 to N420, 000.00, Igbinedion University Okada, Edo state N514,000.00 to N643,000.00 and Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo state N250,500.00 to N550,500.00, among others.

The quality of education is also at stake when comparing public to private universities. Public universities are sometimes considered to offer less valuable educational experience than private universities.  The classroom experience may be dull as professors primarily lecture to compensate for minimal student participation. Private universities have high student expectations with heavy workloads. Discussions in the classroom are stimulating as participation is required. This creates an encouraging environment valuable to student learning.

Other aspects that differ between these two types of universities include campus life, student organisations as well as the potential to explore majors and transitional opportunities. The private universities will appeal to a student who wants to be immersed in campus life. There appears to be more student organisations than at public universities. This contributes to a social scene among students, adding to the allure of campus life that will not be found at a public university.

However, public universities tend to be more flexible for students who are working as they study with heavy work schedules unlike the strict learning atmosphere found at private universities.

Admission into a competitive university presents its graduates with on-going benefits down the road. Students at private universities gain networking benefits that former students tap into to get jobs down the road.

For example, if your college roommate ends up in a high-ranking position in a company or industry that you want to get into, having that college connection may secure you a spot within that company.

Many private universities are smaller institutions, which means instructors and professors can focus on each student to ensure individual success. In addition, many private universities focus on developing the whole student, which requires lecturers to mentor students personally and professionally.

Private universities have smaller class sizes, an advantage for student education. Students are not likely to be overlooked in classes that take place in an auditorium like those at public universities.

Smaller class sizes lead to more interaction with lecturers, another advantage. Students at private universities have more opportunities to participate in class and have more face time with lecturers. They are less likely to feel isolated or anonymous and build stronger relationships with their lecturers.

 

STEPHEN ONYEKWELU & BUNMI BANJO