The Challenges Facing Schools’ Inspection Amid Universal Basic Education (UBE) Implementation In Nigeria

Abstract

In 1999, Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme was inaugurated in Nigeria, to increase the access of the citizens to basic education and correct other loopholes inherent in its provision. Since the inception of the programme, there have been massive commitments of human, materials and financial resources to its implementation to ensure that its objectives are achieved holistically even amid the parlous state of the economy. Over the years, inspection has been an activity which is geared towards the improvement of the quality of education being provided in schools and the effectiveness of the teachers. In spite of the role it can play in achieving this feats and the objectives of Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme, inspection is ineffectively carried out in Nigeria because of many challenges it is facing. This paper examines the challenges facing inspection in Nigeria such as inadequate resources, inadequate qualified inspectors, limited time, uncooperative attitude of schools’ administrators and teachers, corruption, among others. To achieve this feat, reports of authors, statistics and findings of researches in literature were explored. To improve the state of inspection in the country, adequate funding, recruitment of more qualified inspectors, regular training and re-training of the inspectors, among others, are imperative.