STRATEGIZING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXPERIENCE ON THE ADVANCEMENT IN VIRTUAL LEARNING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Educational systems are faced with modifying and re-modifying activities that foster the improvement of better learning over the years. In-person learning, which requires the physical presence of both the student and teacher in a particular place and at a particular period of time, used to be what was best and most obtainable in most Nigerian public institutions of learning. After the global pandemic in 2020, strategizing and re-strategizing of learning cultures through virtual learning became inevitable. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews to conduct in-depth interviews with 20 students. WhatsApp was the commonly mentioned tool used in virtual learning as found in this study. Poor facilities, poverty, ignorance, incompetency, and inadequate virtual learning training were the indicated hindrances to the advancement of virtual learning in the Nigerian Educational Sector. This study suggested the need for trainings on the use of the internet and other facilities, the upgrading and maintenance of these facilities, funding of the educational sector, and payment of bursary to students to enable them purchase data for virtual learning innovation in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.