The running of hostels as auxiliary services in University of Benin: Implications for academic studies

Abstract

Education is no longer primarily a privilege of the upper classes but open to all those who are of various classes and competence. Consequently, hostel as auxiliary services should be equipped to house these diverse students. There seemed to be inadequate hostel facilities in most of the Nigerian Universities to achieve such a purpose. The purpose of this study was therefore to critically examine the running of hostels as auxiliary services and its implications for academic studies in University of Benin, Nigeria. Theoretical framework was based on social climate theory by Moos (1976). Four research questions were raised and were hypothesized and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population from which the sample size was drawn consisted of 9,669 expected hostellers from 2008/9 to 2011/12 academic session. Data collected from 2008 to 2012 pocket statistics was 29,006. These data were analyzed using percentages, chi-square and Pearson correlation. The findings revealed significant disparities and correlation among the variables.

Keywords: Hostel environment, learning process, hostellers, accommodation.