ECONOMIC RETURN OF INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION FROM LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HAWASSA CITY ADMINISTRATION SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

<strong>ABSTRACT: </strong>The study was intended to assess the economic returns of investing in education from lived experiences of HCA secondary school teachers. It employed a mixed research design. 297 school teachers were selected as sample by using stratified sampling techniques. Questionnaire and document analysis were used as data gathering tools. Data was analyzed by using percentages, mean, standard deviation and independent sample t-test. Additionally Pearson’s correlation and Univarient regression analysis were also employed. The findings of the study revealed that most of the respondents are having BA/BSc. Salary of the teachers was average 6574ETB. Respondents have incurred almost all private cost of education during their study time. The public expenditure of education is increasing highly. Cost of education/student is increasing alarmingly. Education consumes the highest share of the total government annual budget. Education has higher impact on the economy of teachers and the public in general. BCR of education is 4.3. In conclusion educational status of teachers is below the standard of MoE. The salary of respondents was at minimal level. Private and public expenditure of education is high. Respondents earned most of the private economic benefits of education. Education is helpful for the economic growth of the nation. Education is considered as a means to foster productivity and income growth. Education has high and positive relationship with economic growth. Education is a profitable investment. The researcher recommended that responsible government body has to work to control annual growth of individual cost of education across the nation. HCA has to work on improving educational status of teachers by providing opportunities of learning in weekend or night programs. The JEG salary improvement program should be implemented. Finally, HCA/universities should encourage practitioners to perform further research on the topic.