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Development of Distance Learning: Perspectives from Nigeria

Dr. Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf PhD.

Head, Open & Distance Learning Division

National Universities Commission

Abuja Nigeria

sbramon2001@ yahoo.com

http://www.nuc.edu.ng

International Perspectives on the Development of Distance Learning. OUUK 20 April, 2011.

Introduction…1

Map Of Nigeria. 2

Nigeria: Basic Facts

• Africa’s most populous nation, Over 150 Million people: [ 250 Ethnic groups; 500 Languages]

• Location: West Africa, between Latitude 4o and 14o N and Longitude 2o and 15o E

• Total Land Area= 923,768Km2 (356,669 sq m).• Federal Republic, 36 States + 1 Federal Capital

Territory, 774 Local Government Areas

International perspectives on the Development of Distance Learning. OUUK 20 April, 2011.

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NUMBER AND TYPES OF HE INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

HEI Federal State Private Total

Univers-ities

36 36 45 117

Poly/ Monotechs.

43 52 15 110

CoE 21 44 21 86

Total 100 132 81 3

International perspectives on the Development of Distance Learning. OUUK 20 April, 2011. 4

5Federal State Private

36 36 45

Universities

Federal Universities

32%

State Universities32%

Private Universi-

ties36%

NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM STATISTICS

ODL IN NIGERIA

• Home study/ correspondence variety popular early to mid-20th century.

• ODL Policy framework: Long standing recognition as means of enhancing access. NPE since 1977

• ODL Policy goals: Provide access to quality education and equity

in educational opportunities for those who otherwise would have been denied.

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ODL IN NIGERIA….2

• ODL Policy goals: Meet special needs of employers by mounting

special certificate courses for their employees at their work place.

Encourage internationalization especially of tertiary education curricula.

Ameliorate the effect of internal and external brain drain in tertiary institutions by utilizing experts as teachers regardless of their locations or places of work.

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ODL IN NIGERIA…3

• POLICY VS PRACTICE ?• Policy stipulates ODL implementation at

ALL levels of Education.• Yawning Gap between Policy and

practice……• In reality only at tertiary level:National Teachers’ Institute (NTI)University sub-sector

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IMPERATIVES FOR ODL IN NUS

DD for HE far outstrips SS. In Nigeria, over a million candidates sit

Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, existing 117 universities can only absorb about 225,000 new entrants

Need for Paradigm shift to enhance access

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ODL In the University system

• Yet to be fully exploited..

• 1 Unimode University (NOUN)

• 6 Dual- mode institutions

• Enrolment:

<50,000 in Dual mode DLCs + abt. 20,000

in NOUN.

• Many Universities expressing interest !!International perspectives on the Development of Distance Learning.

OUUK 20 April, 2011. 10

ENROLMENT IN ODL PROGRAMMES

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ENROLMEMT IN DL CENTRES

S/NO UNIVERSITY DLC ENROLMENT

1. Ibadan 12, 750

2. Lagos 10,381

3. Abuja 16,791

4. Maiduguri 3,624

5. FUT, Yola 1,204

6. OAU Ile-Ife 5,000

GRAND TOTAL 49,750

International Perspectives on the Development of Distance Learning. OUUK 20 April, 2011.

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CHALLENGES OF ODL IN NUS

Institutional capacity gaps : Inadequate Course Wares Weak Learner support system Inappropriate delivery mechanisms Regulatory capacity gaps

Professional capacity gaps:Dearth of competent Practitioners [Teachers;

Tutors; IA&G staff ]Paucity of QA personnel

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TACKLING THE CHALLENGES..

NUC/BC/OUUK PROJECT: Collaboration between NUC , British Council Nigeria &

OUUK

Overarching objective: Bring the standard of ODL practice in Nigeria up to level of global best practice

ODL stakeholder roundtable in November, 2008 - a forum for discussions on issues bordering on a suitable ODL Model for Nigeria

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ODL PROJECT…2

Stakeholders’ workshop on 26-27 March, 2009: out come :Development of Guidelines for ODL in the Nigerian university system [ Eligibility to offer DL; Delivery guidelines, programme accreditation instrument]

Train the Trainers Initiative : (Dec. 2009 – March 2011)

E-teaching workshops: nominated group of DL teachers from 7 Nigerian universities.

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ODL PROJECT…3

• TtT Initiative:• A series of 5 workshops + Intervening conversations facilitated by

OUUK staff: Prof. Swithenby et. al.• Workshops focused on course module designs+ associated support• General studies courses:

– Use of English – CDL University of Ibadan– Philosophy and Logic – CDL, OAU Ile-Ife– Nigerian Peoples and Culture – CDL, University of Maiduguri– Science and Society – CDL Federal University of Technology,

Yola– Entrepreneurship – DLI, University of Lagos and CDL, University

of Abuja

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ODL PROJECT…4

• Other aspects of TtT:Assessment [ incl. e-assessment]ICT for resource development and

delivery; ICT for student support.

Designation as National Trainers

40 graduates : certified NUC/BC/OUUKCASCADE

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ODL PROJECT…5

• Next steps:

• University level cascading

• Roll-out of Pilot Modules

• Development & Roll-out of other selected courses/ modules

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ODL PROJECT…6

• Consortium formation (6 Universities) Steering group: VCs – oversight; policy, finances Coordinating group {Executive Group: Directors} Agreement to collaborate in :Development and delivery of learning

resources, courses/modulesStudy centre network Choice of VLELong term Resource production mechanism

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REQUIRED….?

Strengthen Collaboration among consortium members

Strengthen partnership with OUUKForge new partnerships…China, India,

Uzbekistan ……?Build synergies

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Future Prospects…?

• Perennial problem of Inadequate access to HE must be ameliorated.

• ODL is the answer

• With greater stakeholder commitment & support + hard work+ collaboration, the Future of DL in Nigeria is bright.

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Thank you and God Blesswww.nuc.edu.ng

International perspectives on the Development of Distance Learning. OUUK 20 April, 2011.