The world is changing rapidly, and the global education sector is undergoing significant changes as well. It is a well-known fact that many universities now utilise online learning, which enables students to study remotely through the Internet.
Prof. Ibrahim Olateju, a professor at Lagos State University (LASU), suggests that Nigerian universities should adopt a similar approach. He has encouraged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to take steps to include virtual learning in the criteria for evaluating the quality of university programmes.
Prof. Olateju said this would help universities prepare well to teach students online or in a mix of online and classroom learning. He spoke about this during a lecture, discussing how to maintain high-quality education while still embracing new ideas and technology.
He pointed out that evaluating a university’s quality should include assessing how well it utilises virtual spaces. Currently, many schools do not utilise online learning effectively because it is not part of their official requirements.
He also said universities should stop relying solely on one big examination at the end of the semester to evaluate students. Instead, there should be many smaller tests and assignments throughout the course. He suggests changing the usual way where only 30% comes from continuous tests and 70% from final examinations. He thinks it should be 70% from tests during the course and 30% from the final examination. Although it is challenging to achieve a perfect system, this approach will provide a more effective way to determine whether students are learning more effectively and fairly.
Prof. Olateju, in his speech, also delved into quality management, which involves ensuring that everything in the university operates efficiently and meets global best standards. He said innovative technologies can help by giving real-time information. Doing this allows teachers and school leaders to make good decisions, save money, and protect the environment.
Utilising technology effectively will also enable universities to support Nigeria’s goals for a better and more sustainable future. Prof. Olateju believes that schools that adopt this approach will succeed for a long time.
Many people agree that incorporating virtual learning into accreditation will encourage universities to enhance their online teaching. Mrs Funmi Adeoye, an education expert, said if the NUC does not check virtual learning, many schools will not take it seriously. This will prevent students from accessing quality online education.
The NUC has not yet said if it will change the rules. However, as Nigeria’s universities expand, it is clear that they need to update their teaching and assessment methods to support students better. Using virtual spaces for learning must be part of the plan.
For Nigerian students to learn effectively and be prepared for the future, universities must adopt new technology. Adding virtual learning to accreditation is a crucial step in enhancing education and making it more accessible to a broader audience nationwide.
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