COVID-19: Nigerian Institute of Journalism students go back to school as they learn online

Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) has commended its students for their commitment over online teaching for the past three weeks.

The students have been receiving online lectures from the comfort of their homes since the federal government lockdown order commenced due to coronavirus outbreak.

The management of the school said the idea of the online teaching is in accordance with the directive of the Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu who on 2nd April 2020 held a teleconference with 237 Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts on how to engage their students academically through virtual learning.

Though, ASUU were not in support due to inadequate systems of online teaching and learning in Nigeria.

After a long time coversation, the Minister urged all concerned to convince the students to take this new development within this period of coronavirus pandemic.

The information reaching to Onyxnews Nigeria from the Head of Department (HOD) General Studies of the school, Mr Boye Ola, was that the online classes started on Monday 30 March 2020.

“Your total commitment over the on-line lectures has shown that you have not come to NIJ for schooling sake but you have come to study journalism for the passion you have for the profession,” he said.

Reacting to the development, Mr Akin-Ojo, who is one of the lecturers said, no complaint should come from any students against the online idea, especially the outgoing students, as he felt that the school academic calendar could not be extended because of any students.

“All I want you to know is that it is the school decision to have this online lectures and I have been reliably informed that you are on your own if you do not attend the online lectures as any topic discussed on the platform WILL NOT be repeated in the class,” Mr Akin-Ojo said.

Reactions from the students side, governor of 2019/2020 National Diploma II Idera Eluwande, advised other students in ND2 who have no smart device to access the internet to get one.

She also said students need to comply with the school management’s directive on the online lectures, noting that it would be of great assistance to minimise the students’ idleness.

Another student, Musa Babatunde, said the online initiative would have been highly welcomed by the students if the school management had addressed the students before introducing it.

“I have read the NIJ’s Student Handbook from page 1 to page 33, there’s no section that provides support for an online class. It was not even mentioned at all,” he said, Stressing that: “I’m sure no one expected coronavirus or the lockdown that followed it but there should be a chapter that treats the state of emergencies like this and the likely measures our dignified management might put in place to ensure we get the quality service we paid for.”