Private Sector Participation in Universal Basic Education Implementation in Rivers State

Abstract

This study examined private sector participation in Universal Basic Education (UBE) implementation in Rivers State. Three objectives with corresponding research questions and null hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of this study comprised of 9,064 academic staff in 321 public junior secondary schools (UBE) in the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. A proportionate stratified random sampling technique was adopted to select a sample size of 906 academic staff representing 10% of the entire population. Questionnaire was the instrument for this study, and it was titled: Private Sector Participation in Universal Basic Education Implementation Scale (PSPUBEIS). Cronbach alpha reliability test was conducted to ascertain the reliability of the instruments, of which the reliability coefficients of 0.86 was obtained. Research questions 1-3 were answered with the use of mean and standard deviation, while z-test was used to test the corresponding hypotheses at 0.05 significance level. The findings of the study revealed that, private sector participation in teacher development programmes, and in funding UBE programme in Rivers State to a low extent, while they participate in the provision of infrastructural facilities for UBE programme implementation in Rivers State to a moderate extent. Based on these findings, the study recommended among others that government should encourage private sector participation in funding of UBE programme by granting them tax rebate or tax holiday. Also, principal should always make effort to solicit the help of private sectors to sponsor the teachers for development programmes in order to be equipped for the task of implementing UBE programmes.