Cost sharing and equity in higher education: Experiences of selected Ghanaian students

This phenomenological research study examined sources available to students for funding education and the experiences of students in public higher education in relation to cost sharing as an educational policy for funding tertiary education in six Ghanaian public universities. The research examines students' use of social networks in social capital formation to meet challenges of cost sharing. The economic value of social networks within the family, the extended family, the community, and the government in social capital formation to pay for higher education were examined.;The study adopted a qualitative methodology using structured, semi-structured, and open-ended in-depth interviews to collect data from 44 students from the six public universities and three administrators. Document sources from the universities, Ministry of Education, GET Fund, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning were also analyzed. The results were transcribed, coded and categorized under emerging themes for analysis and discussion.;The findings indicated that a number of qualified students could not have access to university education because of lack of funding. Students from lower-socioeconomic families were mostly affected in the cost sharing policy. Government was seen to be gradually shifting more responsibilities of funding higher education to parents through students' fees despite the economic situation in the country. Female students faced cultural factors that limited their access to higher education. There were gaps between government policies on enrollment that needed attention of university administrators. Policy on accommodation was not strictly monitored and residential halls were over crowded causing infrastructure deterioration. Procedures for securing student loans were frustrating to students and limited access to these loans.;Not all students were using social networks to mobilize social capital in funding their education particularly students from families with patrilineal systems of inheritance used less in comparison to those from matrilineal families. Policy makers have to take into consideration the economic situations of students from lower income families in order to ensure they are not short-changed. Enrollment and accommodation policies as well as loans processing requirements need close monitoring and evaluation.