Online Classes How Effective by Alabede Yusuf Olanrewaju

Online Classes How Effective

By; Alabede Yusuf Olanrewaju

Since the first case of corona virus was declared in the country, government at all levels have been at the recieving end of barrage of criticism  daily. The decisions they've had to take remains huge, courageous and tasking compared to thier expectations at the resumption of office in 2019. Leadership indeed is never a piece of cake.

A major controversial issue which has caused uproar amongst the masses is the introduction of online classes by the government. Online classes refers to learning which takes place across the internet, over the years, it has become an effective learning tool under the right conditions especially in the first world countries. There are numerous testimonies of individuals who took courses online and made a livelihood from it. This only reiterate the importance and effectiveness of online classes in improving the literacy & skill level of a nation.

The Nigeria  government must have taken this decision with a view to avoid idleness and stagnation in the learning process of it's teeming population but it is not a well thought out decision. How do you give a large expanse of land to a peasant farmer without the needed equipment? The enabling environment for the success of online classes are yet to be put in place.

An effective online class would definitely require an internet connection, smart phone or laptop which will come at a price. Who would bear the burden of this cost, the network providers in this country are more of parasite feeding on the helplessness of it's host. The cost of getting a fair data bundle coupled by poor network services are alarming.

For an online class to be worth it's salt, a smartphone/ laptop is required but what percentage of this learning population can afford one. The epileptic state of power supply is another major hinderance to this project.

While the initiative behind establishing an online class is highly commendable, the enabling infrastructure to aid and support it is not on ground. 

A larger percentage of the teeming youth can barely afford their neccessities, asking them to take online courses would amount to gross wickedness on the part of the government. The passion to learn is unquestionable but the resources are far fetched.

Our problems would not be solved by imitating the policies of other nations but by taking proactive decisions based on realities on ground. For online learning to be more effective, the network providers would have to work with the government and proffer real solutions to our problems.