VIRTUAL LEARNING IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

As  COVID-19 is still ravaging nations of the world, destroying lives and hindering economic activities of nations including Nigeria and the resultant  lockdown, citizens were told to stay in door or  avoid public gatherings and crowded places  in other to  break  the  chain  of  transmission  of  the  pandemic. Educational institutions are fully part and parcel of the society hence the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent lockdown effect also affected the schools, as it hard no alternative than to explore other mode of teaching and learning outside the tradition face-to-face lectures mode of teaching. During the lockdown the schools  were  directed  to  embrace  e-learning  for  engaging  students  in  learning from their respective homes or otherwise. However the directive is not effective because  of  some  challenges  ranging  from  limited accessibility and network connection, inadequate electric power supply, network and internet connectivity problems, finance, lack of conducive environments for learning  and other resources. This opinion article highlights the importance of virtual learning in a time of global pandemic and natural disaster. It also examines the challenges and prospects of virtual learning. The paper used secondary source and personal observation to generate the required data. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations were made and some of the recommendations include that Infrastructural facilities should be given adequate priority and funding, training of lecturers and student on the technical skills required for virtual learning should be given maximum attention.