By AAT, Stephen Adoga and Seun Aderounmu

The gates of Nigerian public Universities were shut on Monday, 23rd, March, 2020, over issues bothering on payment of earned academic allowance (EAA), revitalization of the University system, non-fulfillment of conditions included in the 2004 agreement reached between the government and the universities’ authority, and integrated personnel and payroll information system (IPPIS) amongst others.

After series of meetings and negotiations between the federal government and the universities’ representatives led to an agreement after which the strike was suspended and students were ordered to return back to school on January 18th, 2021 after the long closure, but with strict adherence to all COVID-19 protocols which, on the other hand, left the universities’ authorities with the challenge of ways by which lectures can be delivered to students with the social distancing protocol in mind, even as the number of COVID 19 infection rises.

To address the challenge brought about by the need for social distancing, most public Universities in Nigeria agreed to the said resumption date and assured members of the public of students’ safety, having put in place safety measures in line with covid-19 guidelines provided by the government. While some Universities who finds it difficult to control their population at this trying times opted for full Virtual classes- Institutions like the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife with exception for few final Students of Pharmacy and Faculty of Agriculture, others adopted both physical and Virtual classes.

Just over a month since virtual learning started in some public Nigerian Universities, the Sparklight News decided to monitor how the various institutions are faring in the discharge of their teaching duty to students online.

Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)

At the Federal University of Technology, (FUTA), Akure, academic activities resumed on 18th January, 2021, but full lectures didn’t commence until February 1st, 2021, when physical and virtually lectures started. Before the 1st February, lecturers relied on Google classroom to engage students with assignments, even though they have been out of study for over a year. But after a while, lecture mode switched to both virtual and physical classes. For the virtual classes, most lectures were held via zoom, according to a source within the school, who described the online lectures as uncoordinated. The source further alleged that the lack of coordination has led to the display of some social vices by some students, one of which he said involved smoking of cigarette during physical classes among other forms of hooliganism.

Sparklight News also learnt that physical classes are at the discretion of the lecturers. The students, according to a student who does not want to be named, had to stay glue to their Whatsapp loop for information on which lecture will, or will not hold. The resumption in FUTA, though full, both residential and off campus, there has not been any reported case of COVID 19 in the school and among the students.

University of Lagos (UNILAG)

Following the resumption on 18th January, 2021, the University of Lagos scheduled the commencement of its virtual full virtual semester for 25th January, 2021. The management announced that both lectures and examination will be done virtually.

Investigation revealed that, on the first week of resumption, the university website had a downtime. Following the restoration of the website, however, many students could not login into their portal, even while some were seeing courses of other faculties. Students complained about the manner in which the University is handling the online classes, pointing to the high weight of PowerPoint presentations meant to be downloaded from the portal.

A Student who preferred anonymity did a count and he said he has a total of 1200 slides from just two courses out of seven courses that he registered for, which means he should be expecting 600 slides multiplied by seven courses to read with no voice note or explanation and assignments.

Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu (LASPOTECH)

At the Lagos state Polytechnic, Ikorodu, the situation is not any different, as the students mostly rely on their Whatsapp messaging application for classes and assignments. Speaking with our reporter, a female student from the School of Communication and Liberal Studies, stated that most students have been left frustrated by the inability of the school to provide proper online learning facility that will aid the lecturers in the discharge of their duties. On another hand, she apportioned a part of the blame to some lecturers who, in her words, “lacked the expertise required to effectively teach students at this time”.

When asked about the mode of teaching adopted by the lecturers, she said lectures are delivered via recorded voice notes, after which they are sent to the various Whatsapp groups for the students to download and play. This, she said, makes it very difficult for both the students and the lecturers to connect with each other, being that such way of life is a totally strange one that they are learning to cope with.

Another student who spoke with the Sparklight lamented the victimization of some students through the taking of class attendance by the lecturers, without bearing in mind that some may either be lacking of internet data, or be offline, as a way of managing the volume they have. She accused the lecturers of showing more interest in taking attendance than showing concern for students whom, according to him, are the most affected at this time. The student called on the authorities to develop a platform where data will not be required for one to have access to lecture contents.

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta

Popularly known as Mapoly, the students claimed the lecturers refused to make use of the online teaching platform. And this, the lecturers, according to them, attributed the refusal to the salaries accrued to them that the school hasn’t settled. “Lecturers are not ready to make use of the platform because they are been owned salaries for months,” one student said.

The students, when asked if there is any chance of lecturers doubling down on their alleged demand, said they don’t think the lecturers will conduct classes until their outstanding salaries are paid.

While the issue of lecturers’ salary is one challenge, another is the demand that certain things needed to be provided to enable the students adapt to the new innovation.

The Sparklight Newspaper learnt that most schools in the East and South has continued to embrace the physical teaching while jettisoning the virtual learning.

Having identified all these, it is imperative for the Federal Government to act swiftly by collaborating with Nigeria Public Universities to train lecturers so as to adapt to the new normal or fade out.