Education

COVID-19, Educators, Students and Post-COVID Reflections

Published

6 years ago

01/05/2020

By Ibironke Olurotimi

When the news of Nigeria’s first confirmed COVID-19 case dropped that morning in Late February, none of us was prepared for what lay ahead. We all thought we’d beat this just like we did with Ebola.

Faith-filled Nigerians continued to post things like “this too shall pass” on their WhatsApp statuses and other platforms. Here we are 60 days after and we can only hope we get out of this as fast as we can so we can gather the ruins of our broken economy and systems and begin building our “new normal” as a lot of thought leaders have postulated.

The government closed all schools in a bid to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and keep our children and all schools staff safe. This nationwide closure has affected our education system in no small measure and we have to deal with the effects of these on teaching and learning. The government has put in a lot of effort in responding to this sudden transition because children have had to learn from their homes.

Some of the interventions put in place by the government is the education and TV radio which has a wide reach and helps to close the inequality gap that has been suddenly created by the school closures. There is also digital content made available on portals hosted by the government to serve children who have access to the internet. Private organisations are also providing solutions at almost rock bottom prices and some absolutely free just to ensure that the learning of our children does not stop because education cannot wait. Some are partnering with the government to make content available online with no attendant data charges.

Sadly, some children will fall back because their learning was placed on hold, due to several factors ranging from loss of parents, poor and illiterate parents etc. Some will not be able to come back to school thereby increasing the number of out-of-school children which stands at 13.5 million nationally, a menace we all are collectively working to reduce and ultimately eradicate. All of these being said, the pandemic will come to an end at some point and we would be left with the after effects to deal with, how will we respond as education practitioners???

Post COVID-19, teachers will have little time to get their students up to speed and the might live with the pressure to ensure their children are open to learning again, putting into consideration that no child must be left behind.

Now more than ever before, teachers must begin to look at strategies, skills and practices that will help deal with the effects of COVID-19 and successfully get themselves prepared for times like these. I would outline a few things that education practitioners can begin to reflect on:

Flexibility in teaching: We cannot afford to go back to business as usual. Teachers will have to develop the ability to use:

Data to inform teaching methods and strategies: Relying on using data generated from the classroom to inform the teaching strategy that would be employed. Simple assessments can be used to ascertain the levels of the children and then tailor their teaching to meet their needs. Teachers must always assess the impact of their learning strategies and be adept in not just gathering but cleaning and interpreting data.

Digitised learning materials and digital skills: The internet houses a lot of innovations that can help teachers improve their teaching methods and strategies. We cannot shy away from the fact that the future is tech and a lot of learning in the days to come will be driven by technology. Teachers can also begin to introduce technology to drive learning in their classrooms, going from simple to complex. (Thisis very critical for those who are just easing into the digital world)

Teach 21st century skills within their class: Using different teaching methods that embed this skill and measure the impact of these methods with relevant assessments. (Public education practitioners get in here!)

Differentiation: It would be important to note that we can’t return to business as usual. Children must now be taught at their levels. The one size fits all approach that might have been used in the past will not work ( It has actually never worked). Teachers must develop the ability to develop differentiated instruction. To create instructions that would meet each child at their level, teachers must:

Develop empathy
Understand that differentiated instruction is a blend of whole-class, group, and individual instruction,
Plan : Be proactive in planning for their classes and putting all learners into consideration,
Manage their classroom more effectively now more than ever before so that no one is lost in the cracks.
The government and education planning bodies (MoE) must also support the teachers with resources and the required support for teaching and learning that would enable them carry out their activities effectively.

Planning: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail”

To remain ahead and relevant in times like these teachers can stay ahead by being:

Informed: staying ahead by reading and studying about teaching and learning around the continent and in the global scene. Those who are able to think ahead and plan are those who will stay relevant.
Critical thinkers: Those who are open-minded are quick to learn, unlearn and relearn
Need peer support in communities for example teacher communities like The executive teacher, TTNF, school linkers etc.
Prepared for eventualities like COVID-19 or worst-case scenarios; by producing resources e.g. Key points and study packs for emergencies especially those preparing for transition examinations like WAEC, UTME

Educators should also develop good relationships with parents so that collaboration with the parents can help learning continue at home. This is particularly important as a lot of parents are clamouring for support on how they can keep engaging the children this period.

Ibironke Olurotimi is an Amani Fellow and a 2018 New York Academy of Science STEM Mentor. She is a social innovator who works at the intersection of Social development and Education. She is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Education

45 Student-Led Startups Win N2.2bn from FG Ventures Initiative

Published

5 days ago

31/03/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Forty-five student-led ventures emerged as beneficiaries of a total pool of N2.2 billion in grants at the 2026 Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) Finalist Bootcamp.

The programme of the federal government marks a significant boost to youth innovation under its entrepreneurship drive, announced earlier this year.

At the bootcamp’s closing ceremony and awards presentation held at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Ikoyi, Lagos, the winners emerged after a rigorous selection process involving 65 finalists and assessment by a 12-member expert panel.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, said the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to transforming tertiary institutions into centres of innovation, entrepreneurship and practical problem-solving.

He described the S-VCG programme as a key pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at enabling students to convert ideas into viable businesses.

Mr Alausa noted that each beneficiary can access up to N50 million in equity-free funding, alongside mentorship, incubation support and digital tools.

He added that the programme attracted more than 30,000 applications from 404 tertiary institutions nationwide, reflecting the growing culture of innovation among Nigerian youth.

Also speaking, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, commended participants for leveraging technology to develop solutions to real-world challenges.

He urged them to build scalable, tech-driven ventures capable of contributing to national development.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Mrs Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, praised the finalists’ resilience and creativity, noting that initiatives like S-VCG are critical to nurturing problem-solving skills and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Mr Muntari Dandutse, called for sustained investment in youth innovation to strengthen Nigeria’s knowledge-based economy.

On his part, the National Project Coordinator of the Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit, Mr Adebayo Onigbanjo, outlined the structure and long-term objectives of the programme, stating that it is designed to equip students with the resources and confidence needed to build sustainable ventures.

Education

UniJos Suspends Exams Over Deadly Jos Attack

Published

7 days ago

30/03/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The University of Jos has suspended all examinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday following growing tension in Jos, after a deadly attack in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The management of the institution also advised students and staff to remain indoors and stay vigilant.

According to reports, the attackers, who rode on motorcycles, stormed the community at about 7:30 pm while residents were going about their normal activities, firing indiscriminately and causing panic.

Many people were killed, while several others sustained injuries in the attack.

“The attackers just rode past and started shooting sporadically. People were running in different directions,” a source told Channels Television.

The broadcaster also reported that in the aftermath of the attack, angry youths reportedly blocked major roads within the community, raising fears of escalating tension.

UniJos, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Mr Emmanuel Madugu, said the incident had heightened tension, necessitating the decision.

“In view of the late evening fatal attacks by unknown gunmen on residents of Angwan Rukuba (an area that hosts many staff and students of the University), and the consequential tensions it has generated in and around the area and environs.

“The Vice Chancellor has directed that all examinations scheduled to hold on Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31, 2026, are postponed, and will be rescheduled accordingly. That members of the University community be advised to be very vigilant and extra careful with their movements (On and off Campus) with IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

“For emphasis, members are strongly advised to AVOID COMING OUT VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, and should REPORT IMMEDIATELY any sign or shadow of breach of the public peace to the University Security Division on 08035895323.

“University Management is actively liaising with the relevant Security agencies and monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the lives of members of the University community. Further relevant updates will be communicated in due course,” the deputy registrar added.

Education

8 Best Editing and Proofreading Services in 2026 for Academic Researchers

Published

1 week ago

27/03/2026

Dipo Olowookere

The top editing services for academic researchers in 2026 include Editage, Wiley Editing Services, Taylor & Francis Editing Services, Sage Author Services, and Scribbr. In this article, we’ll look at the key features of each of these, and some others, to help you choose the best proofreading service for your own research paper. We’ll also share the 4 key aspects you must consider when choosing a proofreading service.

Top 8 Editing & Proofreading Services for Academic Researchers

1. Editage

With over 23 years of experience in academic publishing, Editage has edited over 2 million research papers and is trusted by 40+ publishers, 500+ universities, and 1000+ research societies. Editage employs over 3,000 subject matter experts as editors. It offers comprehensive publication support, including services such as journal selection, statistical review, and figure preparation. Most service packages include free journal formatting. Editage also provides a specialized service designed to help prevent the desk rejection of your paper.

2. Wiley Editing Services

Wiley Editing Services has edited over 25,000 manuscripts in the past 3 years, with an acceptance rate of 62% (the acceptance rate of Wiley journals in general is around 28%). Wiley Editing Services offers authors slab-based pricing with clear turnaround times. Another feature of their editing service is free word count reduction by 10-20% depending on service package. It has a specialized academic translation team and offers authors design support in creating graphical abstracts and infographics.

3. Taylor & Francis Editing Services

Designed to support Taylor & Francis authors, Taylor & Francis Editing Services has a no-questions-asked quality guarantee and commits to re-working your manuscript until you are satisfied. Clients can choose from three levels of English language editing, and the company also offers you a free language scorer tool to help you choose the right level of editing for your manuscript. After your paper is accepted for publication, you can also avail of services to help you create lay summaries, video abstracts, etc. to promote it. Taylor & Francis also offers a range of live webinars for researchers to acquire new skills.

4. Sage Author Services

Realizing that 76% of authors find writing a paper for publication most difficult of all the research stages, Sage Author Services offers clients a range of editing services with easy tools to compare them and select the one suited for your paper. There is also a combination translation + editing service geared towards ESL authors, and a plagiarism check support service. You can get unlimited Q&A with your editor after your paper is edited. Their website also has an easy-to-use calculator for you to choose pricing and delivery speed.

5. Cambridge University Press Author Services

Cambridge University Press, a part of Cambridge University, has a long-standing commitment to advancing research and human knowledge. Their author services offers 24/7 support and a certificate guaranteeing the quality of English in the edited manuscript. Besides offering three levels of editing service, Cambridge University Press also has translation support available for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. There is a separate manuscript formatting service and a specialized “video shorts” service to make your published paper easy to share on social media.

6. Scribbr

Scribbr, a trusted brand in edtech, has a network of over 700 editors and writing coaches for students. All editors have passed through an in-house training program called Scribbr Academy. Scribbr offers clients access to free AI-powered tools and an extensive Knowledge Base for university students (especially undergraduates). Scribber also has a rapid turnaround time of just 5 minutes for AI-powered proofreading. The company offers specialized proofreading services for capstone projects and essays.

7. Scribendi

Established in 1997, Scribendi has processed over 800,000 manuscripts and has a team of over 400 native English-speaking freelance editors. The company is highly rated on Google Reviews and offers specialized services for ESL students, including dissertation proofreading with a 10% student discount. Another specialty of Scribbr is field-aware editing for humanities and social sciences researchers.

8. PaperTrue

PaperTrue works with students, authors, and businesses around the world to create error-free documents. New customers get a free 300-word sample. The company follows a rigorous 3-step checking process for every assignment. PaperTrue is rated 4.6 on Reviews.io and offers specialized editing services for college assignments, admissions essays, and personal statements. The company also has a large bouquet of solutions for book authors: typesetting, cover page design, etc.

How to Choose a Proofreading Service for Your Research Paper

Here are 4 things that you need to consider when you are choosing a proofreading service:

Quality:

Everyone will claim to be the best. How can you tell which proofreading services are really good? Look for services that have many subject matter experts, those backed by scholarly publishers, and those that transparently disclose whether their services are powered by AI or not.

Turnaround time:

A rapid-fire editing service isn’t always better. You need to budget time even after your paper is edited to check the editor’s changes and respond to any queries. Look for a service provider with a reasonable turnaround time, and one that is flexible with turnaround time if you have budget constraints.

Price:

Instead of thinking that cheap equals good, look for proofreading services that have transparent pricing that is easy to follow. Check what is included in your service package, especially re-editing support and manuscript formatting.

Additional support:

Look for a provider who can assist you at every stage of your publication journey and even with post-publication promotion. Such providers will care more deeply about your article and your publication success. Also, such providers will likely have editors who are experienced in academic research and who understand the challenges authors face during the publication process.