JOURNAL OF EDUCATION (EKSUJOE)

ASSESSMENT IN TREND IN STUDENT’S ENROLLMENT AND CHALLENGES OF NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA (2003-2023)

Abstract

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was established to offer accessible and flexible education. However, the institution seems not gaining wide public acceptance from inception due to its perceived low academic quality, unethical practices, and lack of parity with conventional universities, resulting in low interest from prospective students and parents. This study therefore, examined the trend in student’s enrollment and challenges of NOUN from 2003 to 2023.  The study was a survey design method. The instrument adopted and validated for the study were profoma and interview schedule for administrators. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically, the findings of the study revealed that: the study indicated that most substantial enrolment growth occurred between 2007 and 2008, with a 93.33% increase that is, the enrolment rose from 105,000 to 308,000. The enrollment continued to rise steadily, with a notable surge in 2023, reaching 615,000 students. the findings revealed that the most frequently reported issues were poor programe and policy implementations, inadequacy of media technologists for production and delivery of learning materials.  The study concluded that NOUN’s establishment and growth align with its mission to democratize access to university education in Nigeria. This implies that NOUN is helping to break down barriers in education, making it more accessible to a wider range of people. The study therefore, recommended target student support services for more effective operation of NOUN.