ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION (UBE) PROGRAMME IN THE SOUTH-EAST AND SOUTH-SOUTH GEOPOLITICAL ZONES OF NIGERIA
ABSTRACT
This study examined the implementation of the Universal Basic Education Programme in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones. The study employed evaluative survey design. The population of the study comprised of 7,563 head teachers and UBE teachers. Four research questions and one hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire titled: Universal Basic Education Implementation Questionnaire (UBEIQ). The research questions were answered using mean while T-test statistic was used to text the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that facilities needed for the implementation of UBE scheme in Imo and Akwa Ibom States are not adequate. Also, it was revealed that the opinion of respondents vary on the quality of teachers required for the implementation of the UBE in Imo and Akwa Ibom States. Similarly, it was found that several management challenges such as inadequate provision of facilities and enrollment of large number of pupils confront the implementation of the UBE scheme in Imo and Akwa Ibom States. Among the recommendations were that the government should do more to improve the quality of materials/facilities available for the implementation of the UBE scheme; suitably qualified teachers should be employed to maintain high standard of education in the UBE schools; efforts should be made to address the issue of poor funding of the scheme; and that, arrangements should be made to adequately cater for the large number of pupils that enrol in the scheme so as to avoid having over-crowded classrooms.