NUC Seeks Alternative Ways Of Access To Varsity Education

Prof. Julius Okojie, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), has said that the commission is fashioning out alternative ways of ensuring access to university education in Nigeria.

Okojie made the statement in Abuja on Tuesday when he declared open a three-day workshop on e-learning and Education Resource.

He said NUC was worried by the increasing number of students, who failed to gain admission to universities because of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)'s inability to meet the increasing demand.

``This workshop is, therefore, aimed at bringing together stakeholders in the sector to discuss e-learning.

``New technology has continued to change ways of doing things and there is the need to open ways that those intending to acquire university education can do so without having to go through JAMB," he said.

Okojie further shed light on the project, saying through e-learning, students could study and acquire degrees "at their convenience".

He said using Open and Distance Learning, the programmes would be designed according to the approved Academic Minimum Standards.

Okojie also said materials for the courses had been designed for use by students without having to obtain any licences and without
fear of violating copyright laws.

He said the introduction of e-learning was to ensure that Nigeria would be on the same page with other ICT advanced countries.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on what the NUC was  doing to ensure quality of PhD graduates, Okojie said the commission had continued to enforce the Benchmark Academic Minimum Standard.

He also said that the commission also ensured the accreditation of courses offered in the postgraduate schools.

``Out of the 151 universities in the country, only 67 have postgraduate schools and not all the courses are accredited.

He said most of the programmes had been approved for accreditation with the exception of course, such as medicine, because some
structures needed to be put in place before any approval could be given.

Also speaking, the Acting Director, Open and Distance Learning, Dr Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf, said the workshop was also aimed at
capacity building for stakeholders on ways of reducing the challenges in ICT development.

Ramon-Yusuf said though the current mandate of the e-learning was for universities, there was hope that other sectors would gradually be integrated in the future. (NAN)