The National Universities Commission (NUC), is planning to allow 15 more Universities to establish open online/distance learning centres in order to promote Open and Distance Learning (ODL), in the country.
Open and Distance Learning (ODL), is a type of education in which students may not be physically present in the classroom and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), is the only approved Open University in the Nigeria University System (NUC).
The Executive Secretary to the NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, said this in a symposium, a collaboration with NUC and University of London to discuss the policy and practice of open and distance learning.
Mr Rasheed stated that NUC is more interested in the quality of education in the country, as it cannot be ignored.
“For NUC, quality is the main reason why we are existing not the quantity, we want to assure that every certificate obtained in Nigerian universities is worth it.”
“The physical infrastructure, quality of a staff, quality of laboratory and libraries are important.”
He further noted the equal recognition of ODL graduates and the conventional ones will be achieved if the “programme is fully institutionalised in our country.”
“NUC is trying to advise government on the best way to tackle skills’ issue because the number we are talking about in secondary schools or those out of primary schools cannot just be tackled by simply enrolling them in the universities,” he said.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said the Government is taking steps to improve the access and adequate learning through the ODL program.
Adamu who was represented by Director, Tertiary Education, Joel Ojo, said ODL has already been adopt by many countries around the world and the Government is already planning adequate support that will aid unbiased quality education by 2030.
In 2016, NUC approved eight Universities to operate Distance Learning Centres.
