CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

The increasing number of students in tertiary institutions in several Nigerian cities has caused serious accommodation problems and campus hostels can no longer cope with demand.Establishment of private hostels off-campus was initially perceived as a solution but landlords have taken advantage of the high demand by upping rentals and students are reeling under the financial burden. They have turned to the government for help (Harasta, 2008).

According to Harasta (2008), there has been steady growth in the student population in tertiary institutions, most of which have been expanding their teaching, administrative and research infrastructures. But no effort has been made to provide more accommodation for students and staff. This has allegedly been a deliberate resource allocation policy, with tertiary institutions - at the regional and national level - uninterested in committing funding to accommodation.

Many tertiary institutions possess large amounts of land on which student hostels could be built. But it is claimed that private sector figures on university governing councils have discouraged government investment in building campus residences (Babalola&Okediran, 1997).

Peacock (1999) say that owners of houses and land near campuses made proposals to university authorities to build cheap and affordable accommodation for students. According to reliable sources, some university officials obtained bank loans to build hostels that are operated under holdings whose owners are often their relatives.

"The reason for this strange policy is not far-fetched. Members of the property class who have invested in the construction of these hostels would naturally want their investment to yield dividends," explained Ankali (2007), an expert in estate management.
The evolution of off-campus student hostels occurred in two phases. During the first phase there were few students and a range of hostels from which they could pick and choose. Many hostels were reserved for female students.Proprietors were more comfortable with female students who tended to pay rent when it was due and to be more conservative and obey the rules and regulations of private hostels.

On the whole, rents were moderate and students could afford them. But available off-campus residences also gave some students the opportunity to 're-sell', at high cost, their beds in hostels on campus to other students."We complain about shylock landlords outside campuses. Unfortunately we also have student shylocks who cede, to fellow students, their bed spaces at cut-throat fees," said Ramon (2003). "These mercenary students are generally from rich homes who can afford to live in private hostels. In hostels on campuses, we have students as squatters crowding the rooms."

The second phase of the evolution of private accommodation followed an explosion in student numbers. Students had to chase limited hostel places with astronomical rents, even though the number of off-campus hostels grew.

Today students are having a rough time at the hands of hostel owners whose primary obsession, it has been alleged, is to maximize profit with little concern for students' welfare. Students have also complained about the absence of a learning environment in private hostels."You get an impression that you are, at times, in a shopping mall," explained Ramon (2003).

"A portion of these hostels are transformed into mini markets with hawkers. At night and during the weekend the hostels are very noisy and movements in and out of the hostels are not restricted."
The Nigerian daily tabloid BusinessDay recently undertook a detailed survey in some cities of the living conditions of students in private residences. The journalists reported rents being too high and many hostels characterized by noise pollution. Street trading near hostels were an obstacle to proper learning.
The newspaper called on university and municipal authorities to draw up rules mandating hostel proprietors to charge moderate rends, forbid hawking and improve hygiene conditions.
1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The high rate of accommodation fees for students living in private hostel outside the campus has elicited a lot of concerns from stakeholders. There is proliferation of student hostels due to increased student population even some located at distances that is several kilometers from the higher institutions. Apart from the burden occasioned by high rate of rents, the daily transportation fee from the private hostel to school will be a great challenge to many students from middle and low class family background. However, the researcher is examining the effect of student’s accommodation outside the campus on student’s financial management.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study:

1. To examine the extent to which students lives outside the campus.
2. To examine the effect of living outside the campus on students financial management.
3. To examine the level of proliferation of private hostels outside the campus.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. To what extent does students lives outside the campus?
2. What is the effect of living outside the campus on students financial management?
3. What is the level of proliferation of private hostels outside the campus?

1.5   HYPOTHESIS

HO: Accommodating students outside campus does not influence student’s financial management.

HA: Accommodating students outside campus does influence student’s financial management.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the significance of this study:

1. The outcome of this study will educate the policy makers in the education sector and the general public on the financial implication of outside campus hostel accommodation for students of higher institutions.
2. This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area

1.7   SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study will be limited to the students of University of Benin. It will also cover the effect of outside campus accommodation on student’s financial management.

LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

REFERENCES

Ankali, A. I. (2007). An Empirical Study on the Impact of Tertiary Institutions on Residential Property Rental Values in a Developing Nation (A Case of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State). International Journal of Sciences, Engineering and Environmental Technology,2 (1), 194 –199.

Babalola, J.B. and Okediran, A. (1997): Functions of Management and the Elastic Organization. Van Nostrad Reinhold, New York

Harasta, J. (2008).Town Gown Relations: University and Neighbourhood Leaders Perceptions of College and Community Relations. Ph.D. Thesis. Wilmington University, New Castle, DE, July

Peacock, H. (1999). Fallow Field, Roof, September/October.

Ramon-Yusuf, (2003).The Roleof National University Commission in Nigeria Universities. Abuja: NUC