PANDEMIC VS. EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
Pandemic has been generally accepted to be a widespread virus or disease on a global level. In the past years, we’ve had a series of diseases that have crept in, and they’ve had adverse effects in one way or another.
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF INSECURITY ON EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
One major area that’s very affected in Nigeria is the educational sector; when the atmosphere and environment are not safe and serene for free movement, schools have no option but to close until further notice.
Taking a closer insight into the covid-19 pandemic that has taken a strong stand globally in this present time affected every sector. Markets were shut, streets were left vacant, workers had no choice but to work from home, schools were shut down as well as and practically there was total lockdown in most countries with rising cases daily; people were forced to sit at home for months.
Impacts of Covid 19
Knowing fully well the havoc this virus has caused, it also has some positive impacts on education in Nigeria and a few are enumerated below:
- It boosted and enhanced vast use of technology and ICT in sense that classes were virtual reducing lesser chances of not learning. Online classes became a norm and most institutions still put it in place.
- It provided financial support from international bodies and the govrnment for students and schools
- It also provided funds for safety and building projects and online materials for adavanced learning
- It encouraged online creativity in diverse fashion
- It served as a tool to be very cautious health-wise
- It provided health kits and also made some of it very compulsory to prevent spread e.g. face mask, sanitizer etc.
- It fostered parents-children relationship positively
- Television and radio also served as a remote learning platform
Effects of Covid 19
Just like Covid 19 has positive impacts on education in Nigeria, the negativity on the other hand came at a price. It had more negative impacts and some are highlighted below:
- After school learning practically stopped during the lockdown period. Most parents love their children to learn more even after school hours but their desire was cut short as the whole country was on a total lockdown.
- Not all students have access to the online platform leaving majority of them behind. Unavailability of technology caused a huge setback on learning.
- Excessive data consumption, less electricity facility and network instability was also another challenge for learning during the Covid 19 lockdown in Nigeria.
- It exposed students to the negative and unproductive aspects of the internet and also encouraged internet disorder in sense that they gathered information irrelevant and filthy, not related to healthy learning.
- Social activities engaged in during school hours were on hold as a result of the lockdown
- Tutors/teachers found it difficult to survive and feed conveniently those depending on them as most of them had no other means of survival asides their teaching job.
- Learning wasn’t on fast pace unlike physical classes simply because the virtual platform wasn’t a full part of our educational system.
- Students had no opportunity to relate with their colleagues as they would have in school.
Safety Precautions
The effects of Covid 19 pandemic are numerous and still counting as we still have rising cases daily. Though schools have resumed and activities are back to normal with some changes definitely (Students will be required to wear face coverings while attending in-person academic classes and required in-person class activities) but a lot of damages have been done and the educational system is yet to recover fully; but to stay safe and to stop spread, our health workers have advised everyone to:
- Wear a face mask at all times and hand gloves if necessary
- Always use a hand sanitizer, wash hands frequently(Wet hands, apply soap and thoroughly rub hands together for at least 20 seconds.)
- Stay at home when feeling unwell
- Maintain social distancing(stay at least 3 feet from others]
- Isolate if symptoms are noticed and contact the Covid 19 helpline as soon as possible.
- Not take self medications
- Not gather in groups larger than the size allowable by the current federal, state, and local executive orders.
- Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
- Always remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you do not have tissues, the WHO recommends you cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow, not into your hands. Throw tissue in the trash and immediately wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Regular cleaning and disinfecting are a relevant part of defeating the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Regular cleaning can reduce risk of exposure and is a required step before disinfecting surfaces.
