Strategies for Enhancing the Functionality of Business Studies in the Universal Basic Education Programme in South South Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the strategies for enhancing the functionality of Business studies in the Universal Basic Education Programme recently introduced in Nigeria in 1999 and implemented in September 2007. Most secondary school seem not to have requisite facilities and teachers on ground for the successful implementation of the programme. Most surprising, the subject has been made elective in the junior secondary school curriculum. Many states have not access the intervention funds lodged in by Federal government using the principle of counterpart funding.  Research question and hypotheses guided the study. A 35 item questionnaire was designed and administered to 418 principals and 1254 teachers in 418 out of 1669 Junior Secondary Schools in South South Nigeria. The data were analysed using means and standard deviations, The study revealed that students should have interest in Business students, facilities and adequate teachers are highly needed for the programme, the subject should be made core in the curriculum and state governments should access the funds• of the federal government in order for enhancing the functionality of the programme.

Keywords: Methods, Functionality, Business Studies, UBE, Nigeria