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

Kidnappings: FG Reopens 47 Unity Schools

Published

1 day ago

18/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has announced the reopening of the 47 unity schools earlier shut down due to security concerns on November 21.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday.

It said that the decision to reopen the affected colleges across the country reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding students and ensuring the continuity of education.

On November 18, 2025, over 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.

Just three days later, on November 21, about 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.

In response, the federal government shut down 47 Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions.

Rights group including Human Rights Watch lamented that while these measures were aimed at protecting students, they disrupted learning for thousands of children, denied them access to education, and the social and psychological support schools provide.

FULL LIST OF AFFECTED UNITY COLLEGES

North-West:
FGGC Minjibir, FTC Ganduje, FGGC Zaria, FTC Kafanchan, FGGC Bakori, FTC Dayi, FGC Daura, FGGC Tambuwal, FSC Sokoto, FTC Wurno, FGC Gusau, FGC Anka, FGGC Gwandu, FGC Birnin Yauri, FTC Zuru, FGGC Kazaure, FGC Kiyawa, FTC Hadejia.

North-East:
FGGC Potiskum, FGC Buni Yadi, FTC Gashua, FTC Michika, FGC Ganye, FGC Azare, FTC Misau, FGGC Bajoga, FGC Billiri, FTC Zambuk.

North-Central:
FGGC Bida, FGC New-Bussa, FTC Kuta-Shiroro, FGA Suleja, FGC Ilorin, FGGC Omu-Aran, FTC Gwanara, FGC Ugwolawo, FGGC Kabba, FGGC Bwari, FGC Rubochi, FGGC Abaji.

South-West:
FTC Ikare Akoko, FTC Ijebu-Imusin, FTC Ushi-Ekiti, FTC Ogugu.

Education

Coursera, Udemy Announce $2.5bn Merger

Published

1 day ago

18/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Online learning platforms, Coursera and Udemy, have reached an agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction, with the combined company’s implied equity value estimated at approximately $2.5 billion.

The agreement, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors, stipulates that Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera common stock for each Udemy share held.

Upon completion of the merger, Coursera shareholders are expected to own about 59 per cent and Udemy shareholders approximately 41 per cent of the new entity on a fully diluted basis.

The combined company will continue under the Coursera name, and maintain its headquarters in Mountain View, California.

Coursera, founded in 2012 by Mr Andrew Ng and Ms Daphne Koller, is an online learning platform with 191 million registered users as of September 30, 2025. It collaborates with over 375 universities and industry partners to offer courses, specialisations, professional certificates, and degrees.

The platform includes features such as generative AI (gen AI) tools (Coach, Role Play, Course Builder) and role-based solutions (Skills Tracks) to support scalable and personalised learning. Coursera is used by institutions for workforce development in fields such as gen AI, data science, technology, and business.

Udemy is a platform that provides on-demand, multi-language courses to help companies and individuals develop technical, business, and soft skills. It uses AI to offer personalised learning experiences and supports workforce development in a changing workplace.

Mr Greg Hart, currently CEO of Coursera, is set to lead the enlarged organisation as CEO after the merger.

The board will consist of nine members. Six from Coursera’s board, including chairman Mr Ng and CEO Mr Hart, and three from Udemy’s board.

“We’re at a pivotal moment in which AI is rapidly redefining the skills required for every job across every industry.

“Organisations and individuals around the world need a platform that is as agile as the new and emerging skills learners must master,” Mr Hart said.

The combination is said to create a complete ecosystem of top instructors supported by AI tools, data-driven insights, and broader distribution, enabling more engaging, personalised, and dynamic learning at scale.

Projected operational efficiencies include anticipated annual run-rate cost synergies of $115m within two years after closing.

Udemy CEO, Mr Hugo Sarrazin said: “For more than 15 years, Udemy has helped millions of people master in-demand skills at the speed of innovation.

“Through this combination with Coursera, we will create meaningful benefits for our learners, enterprise customers, and instructors, while delivering significant value to our shareholders, who will participate in the substantial upside potential of the combined company.”

The merger is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory clearances, approval by both companies’ shareholders, and other customary closing conditions.

Education

Luno, AltSchool Launch Crypto Education Programme for Nigerians

Published

3 days ago

17/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Global cryptocurrency platform, Luno and AltSchool Africa, an accredited online learning platform, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at demystifiing crypto to 15,000 Nigerians.

The initiative at that scale makes it Africa’s largest crypto education programme.

According to a joint statement on Wednesday, this is a significant step in Luno’s continued efforts to strengthen trust in digital assets and support safer participation in the digital economy.

This is hinged on Africa’s fast-growing digital finance landscape where 33 per cent of the country’s population already engage with digital assets, and a rapidly growing youth population are eager to participate in the digital economy.

According to the statement, the partnership aims to bridge the knowledge gap by providing structured, practical, and safe crypto education.

This will be done by combining Luno’s experience in promoting safe crypto participation with AltSchool Africa’s capability in delivering accessible digital skills training.

“The course directly addresses the misinformation and financial risks associated with unregulated digital assets, while demonstrating real-world applications tailored to African contexts,” the joint statement added.

The initiative will be implemented in three cohorts of 5,000 learners each. Applications for Cohort 1 will be open from January to February 2026, with the course commencing in March 2026. Cohort 2 participants will gain access to the course in July 2026, while Cohort 3 participants will begin the programme in November 2026.

The programme will be led by Web3 expert Mr Abdulsamad Tiamiyu, who will provide a practical, Africa-focused introduction to cryptocurrency, showing how it can be used for saving, remittances, global trading, and entrepreneurship.

The curriculum consists of five core modules and is designed to be completed within three to four weeks.

Learners benefit from up to one year of access to all course materials, including online, self-paced video lessons, slides, quizzes, and case studies. The course combines theory with hands-on experience, where learners interact with wallets, exchanges, stablecoins, and research tools like CoinGecko and Etherscan.

According to the organisers, this approach gives learners the tools to confidently use digital currencies in everyday financial activities. Successful learners, upon passing the assessments, earn an AltSchool Africa Certificate of Completion.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr Ayotunde Alabi, CEO of Luno Nigeria, said: “This initiative is a crucial intervention in Africa’s digital ecosystem. As crypto adoption accelerates, formal literacy must grow alongside it, so individuals can benefit safely and meaningfully,”

“Our partnership with AltSchool Africa is a deliberate step toward that goal and a foundational investment in the integrity of the industry. By delivering structured, high-quality education, Luno is helping ensure that Africans can participate confidently, securely, and sustainably – turning what is often seen as risk into real economic opportunity,” he added.

Adding his input, Mr Adewale Yusuf, Co-founder and CEO of AltSchool Africa, said “This partnership between AltSchool and Luno is a major step toward financial education that truly serves Africans and helps people gain the knowledge and tools they need to understand crypto with confidence and use it in practical, life-changing ways.”

The programme is open to Nigerian residents aged 18 and above who are able to commit to completing it within four weeks. Applicants must have a Luno account or create one before enrolling.

Starting January, Interested participants are encouraged to submit application through the AltSchool Africa portal, with scholarship decisions communicated within one week.