THE 1955 WESTERN REGION UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION (UPE) PROGRAMME IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:LESSON FOR CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA

Abstract

Six decades after the introduction of the 1955 Universal Primary Education programme, the Nigerian primary educational system remains comatose. This study, a historical discussion, therefore,investigated the programme taking cognizance of the political,economic and socio-cultural considerations that contributed to its acclaimed success. The study noted the detailed planning and preparation made for the project, the ideological commitment of the Action Group government and its huge financial investment on the programme which was meant to accelerate the development of the people; as well efforts to evaluate the programme during implementation with a view to enhancing its quality. Neither the 1976 UPE nor the current UBE programmes have impacted the Nigerian society like the 1955 programme. Under the 1976programme expansion of primary education was achieved without due regard to adequate teacher strength and efficiency,over enrolment resulting in overcrowded classrooms, inadequate and insufficient instructional and learning materials and poor physical facilities. Sixteen years after being launched as a reform measure to address the gaps and distortions in basic education level of the 1980s and 1990s the UBE has not eradicated illiteracy, ignorance and poverty. Neither has it shown sufficient evidence of being capable of stimulating and accelerating national development and programme the paper made recommendations which could greatly improve the current primary education sector.