Non-Tuition Expenses and Coping Strategies of Tertiary Students in Jamaica

Abstract

For less developed countries to grow and develop there is an urgent need to graduate relevant high-quality students at the tertiary level. But students have cited non-tuition expenses such as housing, food, and transportation as the greatest barrier to tertiary education access, especially since many funding opportunities are geared towards the coverage of tuition costs only. The low access to tertiary education in Jamaica remains a threat to national development. Furthermore, with Jamaica being ranked second on the human flight and brain drain global index, it is critical for policymakers to address the concurrent low access to tertiary education and barriers to completion, through the development of evidence-based policies. This study which explores the often overlooked burden of non-tuition expenses on students and the potential impact on their academic performance is therefore scientifically relevant. The study analysed the non-tuition expenses of housing, transportation, and food in three tertiary institutions. Nine hundred and seventy-nine students completed the questionnaires through a quantitative approach to collect data from students in different disciplines. The study also evaluated the coping strategies of these students. Descriptive and relational analyses were done to determine the association between non-tuition expenses and several variables including hunger and academic performance.Non-tuition expenses among tertiary students in Jamaica are staggering. The key findings were: (1) non-tuition expenses exceeded tuition costs by more than 100% with housing contributing more than 50% to that cost. (2) Approximately 38% of students were found to be suffering from severe hunger and a statistically positive relationship was found between severe hunger and housing expenses. (3) Food insecurity was found to be a consequence of burdensome non-tuition expenses as students reported they skipped meals and reduced food consumption as cost-saving measures. (4) Students who enrolled part-time coped by working full-time jobs to help offset their financial obligations. (5) Despite the high non-tuition burden and innovative coping strategies the study found no statistical relationship between the non-tuition costs and the academic performance, measured by grade point average.The high opportunity cost of attending tertiary institutions in Jamaica is real. The coping strategies employed by students may present challenges for completing tertiary studies and for maintaining good physical and mental health. If left unaddressed, the non-tuition expenses associated with tertiary education may further decline access and reduce the number of graduates and by extension stifle the potential for national development.