GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE AND STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS: EVIDENCE FROM NASARAWA STATE, 2009–2022

The study investigated the effect of budgetary allocations on enrollment of students in public senior secondary school in Nasarawa state from 2009 to 2022. The study used descriptive survey research design which uses both quantitative and qualitative methods. It also used primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected using questionnaire and Key Informant Interview (KII). The questionnaires were administered on 364 teachers of the sample schools in both urban and rural public senior secondary schools in the State. The key informant interview was conducted for the principals of the sample schools and other stakeholders in the Ministries of Education and Finance of the State. The data obtained from primary sources were analyzed using tables and simple percentage. Also, the formulated hypothesis was subjected to statistical test with the application of Simple Linear Regression Model. The secondary source comprised mainly data obtained from Nasarawa State Ministries of Education and Finance, Budget and Planning, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja. Other relevant information was obtained from books, periodicals and journals. The study found out that there was low enrollment of students in public senior secondary schools in the state. Based on its findings, the study recommended that Nasarawa State government should increase its annual budgetary allocation to the education sector to at least 26% in line with UNESCO’s recommendation in order to increase student’s enrollment in public secondary schools