10 Problems of Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Nigeria and Possible Solutions
Education remains one of the most powerful tools for both the development of man and transformation of the society at large. ” Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development”. – Koffi Annan.
In Nigeria’s interest for the development of basic education, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in Nigeria was launched on 30th September, 1999 to wipe out illiteracy, poverty and ignorance.
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Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to CanadaIts objectives as stated in the UBE Commission annual report in 2005 is to increase and improve national and political development, reduce the incidence of drop-out from the formal school system and the ensuring of acquisition of life-long skills with moral and civic values needed for the beginning of a life-long learning.
Read Also: Problems and Prospects of Universal Basic Education in Nigeria
Through this programme, the government had made it a priority to educate every Nigerian citizen. However, with various events and happenings in Nigeria, the UBE programme is facing challenges that stands against the fulfilling of its objectives and purpose.
The following are examined as the ten(10) problems encountered by the UBE programme in Nigeria and possible solutions.
Problems
1. Lack of Adequate Funds
With the UBE programme objective which is favorable and good for Nigeria, it lacks adequate funds for the execution of its functions and plans. In order to achieve the mission of the scheme, an Act tagged “UBE Act” was enacted on the 26th of May, 2004.
The Act made provision of three sources of funding which are the federal, state and local government. The federal government had decided to intervene in the provision of basic education with 2% of its consolidated revenue fund; funds from local or international donor grant.
However, it’s quite alarming as it has been discovered that the fund provided by each tier in their budget is not enough to execute the UBE plans in Nigeria. This has been one of the UBE challenge and has brought about few implementation and achievement of the programme.
2. Misappropriation of Available Funds
It saddens the heart most of the available funds meant for the execution of the UBE programme are been embezzled and squandered. What can be said of the school children, beneficiaries of the UBE programme made to take their school lessons on bare floor and with faded blackboard in this present age? Does that not indicate that most of the available funds declared are been mis-appropriated and does not get to the right quarters?
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Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to Canada3. Corruption
This has been seen as a great barrier to the progress of the UBE programme in Nigeria. Corrupt officials who handle the responsibility of apportioning funds to the right quarters will however divert the public funds and grants for private use.
What can be said of the funds meant for the education of millions of school children been diverted for the acquisition of private properties and private outrageous expenses? Corruption is gradually becoming a norm which must be curbed immediately.
Ā 4. Nepotism
This problem has eaten deep in public offices in Nigeria. Definitely, it has also affected the UBE recruitment commission in Nigeria. Many officials are been employed based on the advantages of having someone who is in the position of power.
This has made some officials work below expectation due to familiarity and ties which in turn delays the progress and achievement of the UBE programme objectives. The official might either be in-experienced or far-off the required qualifications.
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5. Lack of qualified and trained personnel
Unavailability of qualified and trained personnel is one of the problems of the UBE in Nigeria. Unfortunately, many unemployed people seeking to work with UBE Commission, lacks the expertise and requirements of the commission.
This has made the implementation of the UBE programme across Nigeria slow. When an untrained personnel is eventually employed to undertake duties meant for a qualified personnel, there will definitely be a drastic drop in the progress and achievement of the programme’s objective. Qualified and trained personnel is one of the tools needed for the success of the programme.
6. Poor planning
It is been said that ” If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. I will love to put it this way that ” If you fail to plan well, you plan to fail woefully”. This can be related to the outcome of the implementation of the UBE programme in Nigeria. Inadequate planning places the success and the implementation of the programme in jeopardy.
Wrong population figures, improper research and assertions are things that cause poor planning. When an inefficient plan is executed, definitely the outcome will be poor. When allocation of funds meant for the UBE programme is poorly planned, how will the desired goal and objectives be achieved?
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7. Inadequate Inspection
The UBE Act 2004 made provision for the establishment of the Universal Basic Commission (UBEC) on 7th October,2004 to co-ordinate the implementation of the programme at the state and local government.
This is to be done through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) of each state and the Local government Education authorities (LGEAs). Improper and insufficient inspection of the execution of the programme has led to the poor implementation of the programme in some states and local governments.
If the implementation had inspected properly, school children taking classes in an unfavorable and poor environment will be discovered early, non-qualified teachers that were employed will be exposed and detected early, diversion of the allocated funds will be discovered and abolished. Inadequate inspection tends to breed the failure of the programme.
8. Poor management
Poor management is one of the problems affecting the success of the UBE programme in Nigeria. The numerous completed projects which has been set down as a legacy are gradually fading away due to poor management.
Many established primary schools by the UBE programme in the state and local government are deteriorating rapidly due to the handing over of the reins of management into wrong hands. This tends to tarnish and ridicule the progress of the UBE programme in Nigeria.
9. Unfinished Projects
When new projects are been embarked on, knowing fully well that the available funds can only execute few of the previous on-going projects awaiting completion, it leads to numerous unfinished projects.
Flagging-off of new projects when there are uncompleted projects on ground tends to cause diversion of attention and lose of focus. When a project is unfinished, it is yet to be categorize as a success. This leads to slow impact of the UBE programme in Nigeria.
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10. Lack of Trust, Commitment and Integrity
Most of the recruited personnel are not committed, lack trust and integrity in achieving the goals and objective of the UBE programme in Nigeria. These category of personnel have infiltrated the UBEC, making it hard to produce and identify the success of the UBE in Nigeria. Trust, commitment and integrity are important keys needed in attaining a proposed plan and goal.
Possible Solutions
To every problem discussed, there is a remedy. The following are possible solutions to the problems facing UBE in Nigeria.
1. Continuous increase in the intervention funds from the Federal government, funds from the State and Local government to the UBE programme in Nigeria. This will enhance the rapid progress of the programme.
2. Immediate scrutiny, correction and timely adjustment, starting from the grassroots to the top of affairs in the UBE programme.
3. Establishment of effective laid-down rules and laws to curb corruption, negligence and unwholesome practices in UBEC Nigeria. This will in turn bring out desired result and success, improving the implementation of the UBE programme in Nigeria.
4. Adequate training of recruited personnels. Also, the UBEC can conduct training for intending employees so as to avoid lapses in the progress of the programme.
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5. Constant inspection of on-going and unfinished projects till the day of completion. This will help to determine the progress of the programme.
With these and lots more, basic education in Nigeria will have a lasting foundation and impact in every Nigerian child. The objective of the UBE in Nigeria will also be fulfilled.
