ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the extent of achievement of the objectives of 9-year basic education programme in Akwa Ibom State (2013 - 2017). Five research questions were answered and four hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted evaluation research design. The population of the study was 2,504 staff of State Universal Basic Education Board in Uyo, principals and teachers of public secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State. The sample of this study was 272 respondents comprising 173 teachers, 28 Principals and 71 staff of SUBEB. The instrument for data collection is a 49-items structured questionnaire entitled Evaluating the Objectives of Universal Basic Education Questionnaire (EOUBEQ) developed by the researcher was used for the study. The instrument was face-validated by three experts in Measurement and Evaluation, one from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and two from the College of Science Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha reliability method, which yielded reliability coefficients of 0.72, 0.78, 0.81 and 0.75 for the sub sections and an overall coefficient of 0.78. A total of 272 copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents that comprised staff of SUBEB Uyo, principals and teachers in public secondary schools and the entire 272 copies were returned representing 100% rate of return. Data were also gathered from the Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination (2013-2017). The data collected from the respondents were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for research questions, t-test and ANOVA were used to test hypotheses. Percentage and frequency were used to analyse the JSCE results.  Based on analyzed data, the study therefore found that: there were high percentage  passes recorded in  JSSCE in most of the subjects by students; UBE in Akwa Ibom State has provided free universal basic education for every Nigerian child of school age in the upper basic level; the incidence of drop-out from the formal school system has to a high extent been reduced in the upper basic level; that the learning needs of students had been moderately met in the upper basic level and that UBE has helped students of school age in acquisition of appropriate literacy, numeracy, manipulative and life skills for life-long learning in upper basic level in Akwa Ibom State. The study, among others, recommended that the UBE programme should be properly monitored and evaluated regularly to ensure that the system does not deviate from the set goals and objectives.