The place of school libraries in the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in Nigeria

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Periodical article

Title:	The place of school libraries in the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in Nigeria
Author:	Bello, Nassir
Year:	2004
Periodical:	African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science
Volume:	14
Issue:	2
Pages:	139-150
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	school libraries primary education educational policy
Abstract:	Since independence in 1960, the development of a sound basic or primary education system has been a major challenge to successive Nigerian governments. In 1976, the Universal Primary Education programme was launched, but within ten years it went into disarray. A new Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme was set up in 1999. This paper investigates the position of school libraries in the UBE programme policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Relevant studies are reviewed and school library standards discussed. The review shows that the school library system in Nigeria is abysmally poor. The paper recommends that the Nigerian Library Association and the Nigerian School Library Association should put pressure on the government to speed up the passage into law of the two percent from the consolidated account for funding the UBE programme annually, as stated in the policy. It also recommends that twenty percent of the funds allocated to the UBE programme should be reserved for school libraries. Furthermore, suggestions are made for improving school library services. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract]