AN APPRAISAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 9-YEAR UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study appraised the implementation of the 9-year Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The researchers identified five variables in UBE implementation which include funding, enrolment, drop-out, completion and transition rates. To facilitate the study, five research questions were raised and one hypothesis was formulated, the ex-post facto survey research design was adopted for the study. The researchers constructed a 15-item questionnaire titled Appraisal of UBE Implementation Questionnaire (APUBEIQ), which was used as instrument to collect relevant data for the study. Out of a population of 37,432 teachers spread across 4,197 public Primary Schools and 421 public junior secondary schools in Kaduna State. The sample size was 420 respondents, randomly selected as follows: 10 persons (teachers, head-teachers and principals) from 15 public primary and 25 public junior secondary schools; giving a total of 400 respondents from schools. Also 10 persons (stake holders) were randomly drawn from the State Ministry of Education and 10 persons (stake holders) from the State Universal Basic Education Board. In all 420 respondents participated in the research, and were stratified along male and female. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, percentages and ratios. Also, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05% level of significance. The findings showed that enrolment during the UBE era increased slightly compared to the era before its introduction; drop-out rate which was high before the introduction of UBE was reduced; UBE implementation increase completion rates. Transition rate was still low, while federal government was consistent in the funding block grant to the State. It was recommended that government and other stake holders should endeavour to improve on the quality of teaching and learning in public schools; so that parents could be motivated to enroll their children/wards into the UBE Scheme. Government should also ensure adequate provision of infrastructure and instructional materials in public schools to motivate teachers on the other hand