The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) has commenced virtual workshops to keep its members in touch with contemporary issues.
Dr Gbolahan Bolarin, secretary of the union said that the virtual fora were being held in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols outlined by government.
According to Bolarin, they would help provide solutions to the myriads of problems confronting the education sector, particularly tertiary institutions.
Bolarin, a first class graduate of the institution, called on the federal and state governments to improve budgetary allocation to the education sector in line with the 26 percent UNESCO Declaration.
Speaking at one the sessions, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, Coordinator of ASUU’s Lagos Zone, said COVID-19 had necessitated the need to seek an alternative to conventional teaching and learning methods in form of virtual learning.
Sowande’s lecture was entitled:” Virtual Learning in Nigerian Universities: A facade or Reality. ”
He said e-learning was designed to create an online communication between the teacher and the student, adding it could complement classroom learning.
“A virtual classroom is where people meet live in order to learn. The software platform allows people in different locations to interact with each other and the facilitator as well as engage in learning activities,” he said.
Other speakers at the sessions were Prof. Clement Chup, a former Chairman of the University of Abuja branch of ASUU, Dr Stella-Maris Okey, National Welfare Officer of ASUU and Prof. Job Nmadu, the President of Nigeria Society of Agricultural Economists among others.
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