Distance learning, virile alternative to limited spaces in varsities – Don
NAN-H-19
Education
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) An educationist, Prof. Amos Adewole, has described distance learning education as a virile alternative to the limited spaces in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Adewole, who lectures at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.
He noted that distance learning education was the only way to curb the desperation for admission into the public universities amongst school leavers, which paved way for corruption.
‘’You will agree with me that there is no way the government can solve the problem of influx of university applicants through the establishment of more universities like they did recently.
‘’Obviously, the government lacks the resources to cater for millions of candidates that are applying to public universities yearly, which is heating up the system.
‘’Of course, government has to look inward to create a robust alternative for these young chaps who are the future of our dear nation, because no country can develop without education,’’ Adewole said.
The don cited the example of some prominent Nigerians who did not have the opportunity of university education through the classrooms but became educated via distance learning.
According to the educationist, prominent legal luminaries like Chief Afe Babalola as well as the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, bagged their law degree though correspondence.
‘’Did that form of education make them inferior to their contemporaries who went to regular universities? No, they were even better than many of those people in all ramifications,’’ Adewole said.
Among the salient factors that made distance learning education imperative and inevitable were the poor state of the economy and the menace of unemployment, the university teacher said.
“Many of our youths really desire university education but they cannot afford it on the regular basis without doing something to support themselves, hence the need for alternative.
“These individuals deserve to be considered and the only way this can be done is by making it possible for them to work and learn at the same time,” Adewole said.
On the quality of distance learning education, Adewole said: ‘’if distance learning education is arranged in line with global best practice, it will be the best form of education so far.
‘’And the only way we can achieved that is through the introduction of e-learning that will make students in their thousands to study at their own pace without stress.
‘’I visited Open University of United Kingdom recently, where over 150, 000 students receive lectures without seeing any of them on campus. About 7,000 of them are here in Nigeria.
‘’I enjoin the government of the day to take a clue and make it possible for many of our teeming youths to be educated,” Adewole said. (NAN)
DOO/ORO/WOJ
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(Editing by Razak Owolabi / Wale Ojetimi)