Gbenro Adesina
Following a spike of Covid-19 in Nigeria resulting into increase in the cases in University of Ibadan (UI), the Emergency Remote Teaching Committee (ERTC) in the Premier University has proposed a blended teaching for the second-semester lectures in the University.
PrimeStar News gathered the the Premier University has lost some of its lecturers. It also gathered that some students and lecturers have contracted Coronavirus and are in isolation.
Consequently, the institution’s management has requested the faculties to identify the courses to be taught online and those to be taught physically en route to the commencement of the blended mode of teaching and learning for the remaining part of the second semester of the 2020/2021 session.
According to a statement issued by the institution’ Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi O. Faluyi, “The ERTC platforms and tools (LMS, zoom, youtube, gsuite accounts, telegram fora, solution clinics) should be maintained for use by students and staff in all cases.”.
“Google meet which is practically free should, in addition, be encouraged for lectures since all academics have access to Gmail accounts, the statement added.
The statement noted, “If the situation worsens on campus, full online engagement should be mounted for all courses as was done in the first semester, exempting only departments and units with special needs with the condition that evident strict compliance with the protocols will be observed.
“Bigger zoom rooms for courses with more than 1,800 students should be purchased and added to the existing pool. From the above submissions, it is clear that going fully online or adopting a blended approach to teaching is one of the steps to take to ensure the safety of all staff and students given the increasing rate of infections being experienced in Nigeria and on our campus”, the statement added.
