The Chairman of  Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education (UBEC) Board,   Mr Rhodesia White has identified lack of political will and under funding as main factors militating against the basic education prgrammes of the Federal Government.

Speaking to journalists in his office at Okolobiri, Mr. White stressed the need for increased and sustained funding of the programme, pointing out that since it was aimed at compulsory education for all, there is need for adequate funding , provision for both infrastructures and instruction materials, including necessary incentives for the operators.

“There is need to make everything available and free in order to actualise the objectives of the programme. Things like uniforms, and books should be made available free of charge for pupils”, he said.

He disclosed that the state UBE board has utilised its 2006 fund to provide new classrooms, toilets, office accommodation, furniture and instructional materials for Basic one to six, and JSS one to Three in schools across the state.

According to him, the delay to implement the programmes  in the state was due to inability of government to pay its counterpart funding.

“When we came on board last April, we discovered that the state had not been able to access its fund for over two years, the reason being that there was no standing board of UBEC in the state, following the suspension and subsequent dissolution of the last board of the commission in 2007”.

He promised that with the constitution of his board, the state is now ready to implement the programme to its fullest, and called for patience, support and encouragement from members of the public.