recent data by Studying-in-UK.org, a
leading information portal about UK higher
education system, has shown a steady
decline in the enrollment rate of Nigerian
students in UK varsities in the past three
years. The UK is becoming a less coveted
destination for education by Nigerians.
According to the latest report, 10,540
Nigerian students were enrolled in UK
universities in the 2017/18 academic year. In
the 2012/2013 session, the figure was
17,390, amounting to 39 percent decrease in
three years.
Based on the latest official enrollment data
about 183 higher education providers in the
UK, Studying-in-UK.org discovered that
students from former British colonies account
for almost 29 percent of all international
students, but their number has decreased by
6 percent compared to five years ago.
The report also noted that although the
number of Indian students had decreased by
12 percent compared to five years ago, India
remains the most popular country of origin for
international students coming from former
British colonies.
During the past academic year, exactly
19,750 Indian students were studying in the
UK.
For many years, the UK and the United
States have been top study destinations for
Nigerians. Reasons for the rush abroad are
obvious: The decline in the standard of
education in Nigerian varsities and several
other factors.
Other factors like job prospects after
graduation, better opportunities and prestige
have fueled the migration of Nigerian
students abroad over time. But this is
changing.
Many reasons have been advanced for this
steady decline in enrollment rate of Nigerians
in UK varsities. The Department of Education
in the UK recently relaxed its post-study rule
for undergraduate and master’s students.
Before, international students had to return to
their home countries immediately after their
studies. Following the recent policy change,
they will now be eligible to work for six
months post-graduation, while doctoral
candidates are eligible to renew their stay for
up to one year.
The high cost of studying in the UK is also a
crucial factor. This was what discouraged
Amiebi, a Nigerian from Rivers State from
studying in the UK last year.
“For me, the UK is too expensive. That was
why I went to India,” Amiebi, who just
graduated from the Noida International
University in India, told Sahara Reporters.
Agu Onyemaechi, who completed a master’s
degree in Environmental Sustainability at the
Birmingham City University, United Kingdom,
spent roughly £15000 on tuition and living
cost in 2014.
If Onyemaechi were to enroll for the same
degree now, he would have to pay almost
double the amount he spent in 2014 because
of the drop in the value of the naira.
Professor Segun Ajibola, the President/
Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of
Bankers of Nigeria, attributed the drop in
enrolment rate on the economic downturn
which saw a drastic fall of the naira against
the dollar and the GBP.
Sharing his views on the issue with Sahara
Reporters, Ajibola, who is also the Dean,
College of Postgraduate Studies, Caleb
University, maintained that the situation had
been made worse because parents sending
their children to study in the UK have not
witnessed an increase in income.
He said, “Their capability to sponsor their
children overseas has reduced significantly
because of the foreign exchange rate. The
second reason is that in Nigeria, so many
private universities are almost of equal
standard to British schools in terms of
facilities and availability of programs. This
has also reduced the attraction to UK
varsities.
“Just as the UK has witnessed a reduction in
enrolment rate, I am sure that it is the same
for the US and other parts of Europe if the
records are confirmed. Prospective college
students are encouraged to stay back home.
If it costs you N5m per annum to sponsor
your child abroad, now it will cost you around
N10m to do so. Where do you get the
N10m? This is because your income as a
parent income has not increased by a similar
proportion in the last couple of years.”
Ajibola lamented that the rush for education
abroad was seriously affecting the Nigerian
economy.
The don called for more funding of Nigerian
universities.
He added, “This is a challenge to the
Nigerian government to improve the quality
of educational services in Nigerian in order to
discourage the migration to Europe, Africa
and American schools. The less it happens,
the better for us in Nigeria economically.
“The conditions in these European countries
are becoming tougher, stricter and less
conducive. Before, in some European
countries, the attraction was that if you
studied there, you could stay back and work
but some countries are discouraging this.
Nigerian graduates out there are struggling
with the fact that they have to go back to
their country after their studies. Where are
the jobs in Nigeria? Is it not better to slug it
out at home rather than spend so much
acquiring education abroad only to return
home to face unemployment?”
sadediji2gist
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