EDITORIAL: As Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Resume Through E-Learning

In Nigeria, various Tertiary institutions have announced resumption leveraging on E-learning.

This is amid COVID-19 pandemic. It is due to this that many students have expressed apprehension over the workeability of this modality while many others have expressed optimism. It is very prudent at this point to agree that E-learning has become inevitable but the execution must also be put into consideration and perfected.

With the known fact that one of the challenges expected would have to do with data, different institutions that have chosen E-learning must factor this in their lecture composition and delivery.

The peculiarities that come with E-learning in the era of poor Electricity must also help lecturers determine to what extent lectures will be held and effective delivery means. We must not forget that students who are at home do not neccessarily have internet support and while many persons argue that money that would have been spent in school should be spent on data, the extent of needed data must also be put into consideration. Platforms such as Zoom if would be exploited for lectures are naturally data consuming, Learning Management System would have been best option but the ability of institutions to maximise this resource in terms of human resource and facilities must be well considered.

The need for E-learning should not just be situational but realistic. Students who stay in extremely poor network areas and those who are hit by economic downturn must be factored into decision making processes of institutions on modalties the E-learning delivery will take. The lecturers must also be mobilised to deliver qualitative Online lecturers in best possible time. While the ability to completely hold E-learning will be put to test critically now, institutions cannot afford to fail it's demand. 

Itis very interesting that the institutions have chosen to take on this challenge but it must not be a decision taken to suit the global demands but must be realistic to ensure that students do not suffer, if coordination were to be lacking. This is not also the time to leave lecturers to this alone, they should get all possible support to maximally explore E-lecturing. Lecturers must also be trained on expectations.

This way, we can achieve maximal results in the E-learning project.