Effect of Public Education Spending on Pupils’ Enrolment in Nigeria (1980–2024)

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of public education spending on student enrolment in Nigeria from 1980 to 2024. It was guided by two specific objectives, along with corresponding research questions and hypotheses. Annual time series data for the period were obtained from secondary sources. An ex post facto research design was adopted for the study. To test the null hypothesis, simple linear regression analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that education spending is a strong and highly significant positive predictor of student enrolment in Nigeria (B = 7,665.26, p < 0.001), suggesting that increased expenditure on education leads to substantial rises in student enrolment. Based on these findings, it was recommended, among other measures, that the government should enhance student enrolment and reduce dropout rates by providing free and compulsory primary education.