Constraints to Effective Implementation of Universal Basic Education for National Development in Nigeria

Abstract

When the 6-3-3-4 educational system was introduced by the colonial masters, the government set out to ensure that education is free at the preliminary levels of learning and this prompted the introduction of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) by the federal government in 1999. In 2004, an act was made to ensure that education at the six years of the Primary level and three years of Junior secondary level were free, available and compulsory for every child. Thus, the UBE scheme was firmly established. The scheme has made a lot of progress so far and has increased the rate of literacy to a great extent. However, there have been problems in this scheme which require immediate attention, they are as follows: inadequate funding, corruption, low educational standard, ignorance, insecurity, religious beliefs etc.