ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN HAWASSA CITY ADMINISTRATION

<strong>ABSTRACT: </strong>The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of education in Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) in Hawassa and how these challenges affect educational quality being provided by them. The research employed a sequential explanatory mixed research design where priority was given to a case study approach i.e. it employed the “QUAL→ quant” mixed method research type where due priority and emphasis was given to the qualitative component. The data was obtained from five selected PHEIs leaders and administrative staffs whose institutional head offices were in the city of Hawassa. It used document review, research questionnaire, interview, and field notes to enable triangulation of the findings with other publicly available information as a source of data and the analysis was made using both qualitative and quantitative data analysis tools. Results from the analysis showed that, though role of PHEIs, which before two decades was almost non-existent and was totally dominated by government institutions has significantly increased and cover almost quarter of higher education enrollment in the country nowadays, there are concerns from side of stakeholders, especially MoE and HERQA, regarding quality and relevance of education provided by these PHEIs. On the other hand, PHEIs are faced with vast internal deficiencies and external challenges like the existence of double standard, frequent change in rules and regulations, lack of recognition and support system for the sector, infrastructural problems, high dependability on tuition fee; shortage of qualified academic staff, and enrollment of students with low academic profile to say the least for them to meet expectation of stakeholders’ with regard to providing quality education. From the number of challenges PHEIs are faced with problem were associated with the higher burden imposed on PHEIs by current education regulations and policies exhibiting double standard in governing for the public and the private sector which ultimately is preventing the private sector to fairly benefit from acquiring the necessary inputs for quality education, lack of support system and incentive mechanism, lack of qualified academic staff, poor students quality, infrastructural shortcomings, and financial shortage were found to be the major ones. Based on the analysis, the study recommended that regulatory bodies, policy makers, and PHEIs leaders to work towards eliminating or minimizing existence of the differential treatment; establishing a support mechanism for the sector; constancy and/or stability in issuance of rules and regulations; diverse income generating activities; enhancing academic profile of instructors and students profile; provide adequate infrastructure