AN ASSESSMENT OF UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION (UBE) POLICY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper attempts an examination of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) policy in Nigeria. It argues that Universal Basic Education in Nigeria is not new being traced from as early as 1955 from the Universal Primary Education Scheme. The paper argues further that the purpose of the programme which was launched on 30th September 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo was to provide free and compulsory education for children in the primary and junior secondary schools in the country. Recent reports show that it would take Nigeria more than 70 years before all children will have access to primary education. This paper is a call on needed paradigm shift in UBE for global competitiveness. The paper x-rays the matters arising in the scheme to include the quota policy, placing of ceiling on the number of pupils to be registered in a state among others. The paper also highlighted some envisaged problems of the implementation of the programme to include policy standard and objectives, policy resources, intergovernmental communication and enforcement, the characteristics of implementing agencies and the economic, social and political conditions and as well the disposition of policy implementers An examination of UBE Policy shows that a number of problems have bedeviled the policy considering its main thurst and specific objectives. It was recommended among other things, that government should increase the budgetary allocation to the education sector in regard to the recommendation of UNESCO that 26% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be allocated to the sector. Also, government at all levels should increase the funding of education especially the UBE programme.