Religion and Development: An Exploration of the Basis of Wholistic Education in Universal Basic Education Programme in Nigeria

Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in Nigeria was launched in 1999, with the goal of providing “free, universal and compulsory basic education for every Nigerian child aged 6-15 years”. The scope of UBE among others include the initiation for the acquisition of functional literacy, numeracy and life skill for adults and special programmes of encouragement to all marginalized groups (girls, women, nomads, out-of-school youth and Quranic students). Religion has been destructively criticized largely due to the sufferings and devastating situations humanity has and is passing through over the years in Nigeria and based on these, religion is seen as being pervasive and it continues to weaken the moral fiber of UBE programme implementation. Therefore, any developmental tool that is effective and can drive home development must be such that is particularly viable in tackling the problems of religion. Thus, in a bid to revitalize a society already bedeviled with various degenerating ills, religious education which is wholistic in nature should become everyone’s focus. This paper described the importance, the curriculum and technique for teaching wholistic religion education for religious tolerance and sustainable development in UBE. The paper concluded that no known religion is devoid of moral and ethical principles and religion is a force which has mostly influenced the character of mankind. This paper maintained that development can be enriched by the insights offered by religion, faith, spirituality and values. Based on these, the paper recommended that religion should be carried along in making policies, the study of moral education should be made compulsory in all categories of learning and the National Orientation Agency should also include it in their plans and school curriculum should be more of reflective thinking.

Evaluation of the Primary School Component of Universal Basic Education in Lagos East Senatorial District of Nigeria

The study evaluated Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme at the primary school level in Lagos East Senatorial District of Nigeria. It used the descriptive design of survey type and CIPP evaluation model. The sample comprised 450 teachers and 45 head teachers using multistage sampling technique. Educational Resources Inventory Scale (ERIS) (r = 0.78) and Learning Resources Utilization Scale (LERUS) (0.69) were used in data collection. Frequency counts, simple percentages, median, mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Results of analysis showed that writing materials, multimedia learning aids, good and conducive classroom, measuring instruments like ruler, compass and instructional materials were the adequate (Median = 3.00) educational resources in primary schools located in the District. The result further showed a progressive increase (Mean > 58.04) in enrolment of pupils. Teachers were found to be adequate (Mean = 10.62) in number when compared to the national standard of 1:40 teacher-pupil ratio. However, funds for the smooth running of the schools were grossly inadequate (Mean = 1.00). Lastly, the finding revealed that teachers adequately utilized (Median = 3.00) the available educational resources in the schools. The conclusion was that resource and fund gap still widely exist among primary schools in the District. It was therefore recommended that government should be more alive to its responsibility of providing requisite educational resources in all public primary schools supported with an initiative to make funds available.

Analysis of Joint School Section Practice of Private School under Universal Basic Education in Nigeria

This study examined the threat pose by schools operating a joint section under UBE to academic activities of both the pupils and students. The research method adopted for this study is the qualitative descriptive design of survey type. Upper basic school I, II, and III students of 15 purposively selected schools operating joint section Universal Basic Education System in Ilorin metropolis were selected for the study. Researchers-designed structured interviews with content validity and 0.77 reliability index of the instrument was the only instrument used to elicit the needed data from the respondents. The findings of the study revealed that: upper basic school students were seriously distracted the students it is meant to cater for in many ways. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that; the same time should be allocated to both sections for both school activities since they use the same compound to decrease distraction and confusion of the students or better still, sections should be structured in different locations to reduce overpopulation in the compound thereby making teaching and learning more effective.