Adequacy of Teaching Manpower for the Universal Basic Education in Urban and Rural Schools in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study sought to compare schools in urban and rural areas on their learning resource needs for UBE programme in Delta State. It was based on primary data obtained via questionnaires administered to 451 public schools in the state. Descriptive statistics and t tests were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that the sampled primary schools in the fifteen local government areas had excess supply of teachers. The study observed an excess supply of teachers in both urban and rural schools under the UBE programme. It was however observed that there was no significant difference between urban and rural schools in the inhibitions to the provision of human resources required for the implementation of UBE in the State. Prunning of the teaching force to include only qualified teachers and comprehensive overhaul of teachers’ working condition along with regular retraining programmes were among the recommended policies.