Is Online Learning The Right Solution For Students In Nigeria?

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The northeast region of Nigeria is frequently highlighted by occurrences of arbitrary bombings, kidnappings and militant attacks, especially since the rise of violent campaigns in 2009 led by the insurgent group Boko Haram.

Learning Challenges In Northeast Nigeria

 

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If you are a parent in the cities of Bauchi or Damaturu located in northeast Nigeria, how would you react when Boko Haram insurgents plant to attack local schools in the region? Sadly, parents in the uncertain regions of north-eastern Nigeria have to deal with such heartbreaking decisions. So should you send your child to school?

Irrespective of what you decide, the decision for most parents in the area has already been made with closing down of more than 800 schools due to insurgency and insecurity. A separate assessment and analysis made by the CCSG (Coalition of Civil Society Groups) has revealed that more than 194,664 students are compelled to discontinue attending their schools due to the threats of militant attacks. The President of CCSG, Etuk Bassey Williams, believes that as a result of the closing down of schools the nation will fail to meet the benchmarks set for primary school enrolment in 2015, with below 80% enrolment of children who are old enough to attend schools.

However there is still hope for Nigeria. Many academic experts have suggested that online education should be adopted in school curricula as a prominent tool that can help in teaching students who are unable to attend schools, specifically in the northeast regions of Nigeria.

Can Online Education Offer The Required Solution?

 

Dr. Dipo Fashina, the previous President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), recently said that the education system followed in the country is counterproductive and flawed. It is in a strong need of renovation and reorganisation. Fashina said “Education is the major thing that promotes being at the height of development and we are not there yet.”

Online education has already gained significant popularity among learners from different regions of Nigeria. The number of students enrolling for online learning programmes is increasing constantly, especially due to the ineffective education system. This only creates unprepared graduates who are unable to find any employment opportunities.

If you are a Nigerian student who wants to pursue quality education and earn accredited qualifications from recognised institutes, then online programmes are undoubtedly the best option for you. Moreover, online programmes are highly affordable and cost only a fraction of traditional college tuition fees.

Expanding The Reach Of Education

 

Nowadays, it has becoming even easier for Nigerian students to pursue online study as the country has more than 175 million monthly mobile phone subscriptions. The fact is now online education programmes are being customised for African learners and you can find numerous online platforms from around the globe, including Africa. Beni American University, founded by Gossy Ukanwoke, is the first online learning university in Nigeria.

Another popular African online learning application is the MTN mAcademy, which caters to students throughout Africa. It provides various courses such as teaching, banking and information technology. The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has also endorsed the mAcademy platform which is considered as a model for how an online platform should be executed for teaching students in the northeast region of Nigeria.

As the telecommunications sector is developing in the country with growing capabilities for internet broadband connectivity, the reach of online learning will spread even further to help learners in uncertain regions pursue quality education effectively.

What do you think about online learning? Can it help students in Nigeria’s northeast? Share your thoughts and views with us by commenting in the box below.

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