(245) COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS' PERCEPTION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION (UBE) PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

摘要

The thrust of this study was comparative analysis of students and parents' perception on the implementation of universal basic education program for children with hearing impairment in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A sample of two hundred (200) participants comprising of 100 students with hearing impairment and 100 parents of children with hearing impairment in the selected local government areas of the Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, was purposively sampled for the study. Two null hypotheses were formulated to direct the study. A twenty (20) item questionnaire with a 4-point rating scale and reliability coefficient of 0.87 and 0.89 was used to canvass opinions of students and parents on availability of funding and sign language interpreters for implementation of UBE program for children with hearing impairment. Data collected were statistically analyzed using t-test of independent samples. The findings revealed that there is no significant mean difference in perception of students and parents on provision of adequate funding and availability of sign language interpreters for implementation of UBE program for children with hearing impairment. Participant expressed gross inadequacy of funding and availability of sign language interpreters for implementation of UBE program. The author recommended among others that UBE stakeholders should employ integrated funding strategy to ensure that all stakeholders are given equal responsibility of funding education of children with hearing impairment. There should be a sharing formula that commits the Government, parents, NGOs, the community and other stakeholders to the responsibility of funding UBE program.