An Assessment of Implementation of Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education by State Universal Basic Education Board of Taraba State

This study assessed the extent to which the implementation of Compulsory Free UBE programme has been implemented in Taraba State of Nigeria. Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The related literature review which was done under theoretical/conceptual framework, empirical studies and summary, identified the gap to fill in the study. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised 16,358 public primary school teachers, 566 SUBEB staff and 265 PTA and clan heads involved in the implementation of Universal Basic Education programme in Taraba State, Nigeria. Therefore, the total population of this study is 17,189. A sample of 713 was drawn from the population of 16,358 of the SUBEB staff, teachers, PTA Zonal Chairmen and Clan heads in Taraba State was used for the study. Two instruments were developed and used to obtain the data for this study. They are; Universal Basic Education Program Implementation Questionnaire (UBEPIQ), Universal Basic Education Programme Implementation Observation Schedule (UBEPIOS). The statistics used in the analysis included mean ratings, ranking and percentage along with bar graphs for the research questions. The hypotheses were tested using both independent and non-independent Chi square tests. A mean cut-off point of 2.50 was used for decision making. Any mean score of 2.50 and above was accepted as been significantly different while any mean score below 2.50 was rejected as not been significantly different. The inferential statistic of chi-square (x2) test of goodness of-fit was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the extent to which public enlightenment influence implementation of the UBE programme in Taraba State is enamored, majority of teachers used for the implementation of UBE programme in Taraba State were NCE holders while the total number of qualified teachers (NCE, B. Ed and M. Ed) were 356 representing 69.39%. of teachers and that the proportion of qualified teachers engaged was different and lower than what is provided for in the UBE implementation guideline. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended among other things that, being a people-oriented programme, the people should be properly educated about the programme by emphasizing educational guidance for the parents. Parents also need to be educated on need to give their children the basic education for a life-long education. On the other hand, if the orientation programmes are geared towards attracting the public especially the parents in cooperating by sending their wards to school, the government should have the political will to put into effect the act that stipulates penalties for parents who refuse to send their children to school.