Fees payment and retention of undergraduate students at Makerere University

Abstract

The study aimed at establishing the relationship between fees payment and retention of undergraduates in the College of Education and External Studies at Makerere University. The objectives of the study were to establish the relationship between fees payment and students’ intention, determination and commitment to stay in University until successful completion of their studies at Makerere University. The cross-sectional design was used to establish the relationship between fees payment and students’ intention to stay in the University, students’ determination to stay in the University and students’ commitment to keep in the University until successful completion of the programme at Makerere University. The study was carried out in College of Education and External Studies (CEES) in Makerere University particularly from School of Distance and Lifelong Learning (SoDLL) and School of Education (SoE). Data was collected using a Self-Administered Unstructured Questionnaire (SAQ), and Interview guide. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS). Hypotheses were tested using the Pearson’s Linear Correlation Coefficient. Analysis of data involved transcribing interviews, sorting and arranging the data by source of information. It was then coded, analyzed and interpreted. The findings indicated that there is relationship between fees and students’ intention, determination and commitment to stay in the University until completion (retention). It was recommended that Makerere University should involve all stakeholders in decision making on issues concerning tuition and functional fees such as library fees. Further research should be done on other student services like welfare services, accommodation services, social and cultural services to find out their influence on students’ retention at Makerere and other Universities.