APPRAISAL OF UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMEIN ACHIEVING ACCESS AND QUALITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

viii ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to appraise the Universal Basic Education Programme in achieving access and quality basic education in Nigeria. The researcher was motivated to carry out the study looking at the commitments shown by the federal government and development partners over the years to increase access and improve the quality of basic education in Nigeria through programme and policies on education. The universal basic education being one of such programmes has been in operation for two decades without yielding the desired result despite the huge financial resources injected for the development of basic education sub-sector. Therefore, the main objectives of the study are: - (i) To assess the level of performance of Universal Basic Education Commission towards achieving access to free and compulsory education of good quality (ii) To appraise the implementation strategies of Universal Basic Education designed to achieve access to functional and qualitative basic education and (1) To identify the issues and challenges confronting the implementation of Universal Basic Education UBE programme aimed at achieving access and quality basic education in Nigeria. On methodology the traditional methods of doing research in philosophy of education namely: - Speculative, prescriptive, and Analytic Methods were applied. In this study, analytic method was employed to examine the implementation strategies for UBE and challenges of achieving access and quality education. The major findings of the study revealed that: - (1) The free and compulsory aspects of UBE were not implemented by UBEC and SUBEB (2)The implementation strategies for UBE were not applied accordingly. (3)There were shortages of qualified teachers and instructional materials as well as opportunities for training of teachers on regular basis. Based on the above findings, the study recommends that: - (1) UBEC and SUBEB should endeavour to provide basic education for free and make it compulsory in line with the UBE Act. (2) UBEC in collaboration with SUBEB and L.G.E.A should maintain effective supervision of Schools to monitor and ensure that teaching activities are in conformity with the implementation strategies for UBE (3) UBEC should sustain efforts at recruiting professionally qualified teachers, train them on regular basis and provide enough Instructional Materials for the basic school system.