COVID-19: FG grants Nigerian students, free subscription to e-learning

The Federal Government said that it has concluded arrangement to grant Nigerian students, free subscription to e-learning through some selected sites in partnership with some major networks in the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said this on Friday in Abuja, at the 19th joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

According to him, the Federal Government granted the free subscription to Nigerian students during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and that some selected sites for education learning activities, especially lectures, can now be accessed for free by the student.

He said, “Airtel users can browse the site for free while MTN and Glo are still adjusting their technical system for their subscribers to access the free site. Both Radio and Television stations could also be accessed for the lecture.

“The online classes were conducted like the offline, and the classes could be taken in real time if the students were online and they could also get the lectures, for download, after the classes were over,” Nwajiuba said.

There has been calls for the government to find a way of getting education to the students who have been forced to remain at home following the closure of the schools as part of efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Recall that the Federal Government had earlier said that plans were being made for students in the nation’s tertiary institutions to receive lectures via the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said this on Apr 14, 2020 in Abuja at the 11th joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

“Some of my tertiary institutions are already giving their lessons, some online, and the ministry is working with the Nigeria Television Authority and the FRCN to start giving lectures, not just because of COVID-19, I hope this would become a permanent feature of our education system.

“Lessons would be given online. Last time I met with the vice-chancellors, I even talked to the press and told them I have directed institutions of higher learning to start thinking of giving people lessons where they are.

“I am also aware that there are some private institutions who are already giving lessons online,” Adamu said.