Analyses of Students Choice of Public and Private Institution in Nigeria Using Game Theory BY

Abstract

The factors influencing students' decisions to attend private or public universities in Nigeria were examined using the minimax principle of two players playing zero sum games. In order to gather the necessary data, questionnaires were distributed to the target population of sampled public and private higher education institutions across the six geopolitical zones, taking into account the 23 factors that were identified as influencing people's decisions between public and private schools. In a two-player zero-sum game, the acquired data were analyzed using the minimax theorem. The best approach and the game's worth were identified. The approach's results revealed that the game's value was 127 (saddle point), indicating that it was favorable to public schools and indicating that the majority of pupils preferred public schools.The saddle point here implies that  people like public schools because they are less expensive, but private schools owe their patronage to their conducive learning environment. This suggests that students' decisions to enrol in university in Nigeria are significantly influenced by the cost of tuition and a positive learning environment. Additionally, the results of the Academic Staff Union of University's (ASUU) industrial strike action are being used by prospective students to choose private universities over public universities.