THE Dean of the School of Education of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Ibrahim Olatunde Salawu, has described online and distance learning as a formidable means of tackling the problem of illiteracy in Nigeria.
Salawu who made this known while delivering the university’s 8th Inaugural Lecture last week said it was “puzzling” that a great many people would spend several years seeking admission into “conventional” universities even when there are ample opportunities they can utilise to get education”:
“One of the sure means of dealing with this high rate of illiteracy, ignorance, and ill-health in Nigeria is Open and Distance Learning driven with strong ICT.
“However, the attitude of a good percentage of Nigerians to this reality remains a puzzle. The reason for this least expected attitude, even on the part of students who are qualified but cannot gain admission into universities, stands very difficult to explain.”
Salawu, who spoke on the topic ‘Educational Technology in Teacher Education and Distance Learning: the Facts, the Puzzles and the Remedies’, noted that “non-writing of JAMB exams, non-writing of post-UTME, no provision for participating in national youth service” were not enough reason to shun distance learning.
Meanwhile, while interacting with journalists at the end of the lecture, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of NOUN, Professor Patrick Eya, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Professor Vincent Tenebe, said that the institution was working hard to ensure that its graduates were allowed to participate in the national youth service scheme.
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