Ummatee-C4PASS Urges Govt to Adopt E-Learning for Students in Insecurity-Prone North
By Pulse Time Nigeria.
A Prominent non-governmental organization, Ummatee-C4PASS, has called on federal and state governments to urgently implement a Distance Learning E-System to safeguard children’s right to education.In response to the escalating insecurity leading to widespread school closures in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Garzali Ibrahim Ungogo, the group expressed deep concern over the far-reaching implications of the security crisis, warning that while security is a priority, “education must not become a casualty of insecurity.”
“Children in Northern Nigeria already face the highest rate of out-of-school challenges globally. Closing schools without an immediate alternative deepens inequality, widens the learning gap, and exposes millions of children, especially girls, to early marriage without continuing education, child labour, and exploitation,” the statement noted.
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Ummatee-C4PASS maintained that the right of children to qualitative education is a constitutional and human right that must not be denied under any circumstance, even in times of crisis.
To this end, the group presented a seven-point recommendation to the Federal Government, State Governments, and relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the immediate introduction of a Distance Learning System (DLS) for affected students.
The key recommendations include:
1. Immediate deployment of a comprehensive e-Learning system: Development of a secure online platform tailored to the Nigerian curriculum.
2. Provision of digital learning devices: Distribution of tablets preloaded with educational materials and recorded lessons for areas with unstable internet.
3. Government-funded Internet data support: Provision of free internet data bundles for students, particularly those in rural and low-income communities.
4. Uploading of complete learning materials: Making all resources guided by WAEC and NECO syllabuses, including textbooks, past questions, and audio-visual guides, available online.
5. Engagement of e-tutors and digital teachers: Deployment of qualified teachers to offer live online classes, recorded modules, and weekly assignments with feedback.
6. Safe school options for WAEC and NECO examinations: Affected students should be registered in physically secured schools closest to their communities to write exams without traveling long distances.
7. Replication across States: States in the North facing similar insecurity challenges should adopt this digital learning model to prevent further academic disruption.
Underlining the urgency of the situation, the group stated, “The insecurity crisis is a national emergency, but education must remain protected. Allowing insecurity to shut down the dreams of young Nigerians will have consequences that span generations economically, socially, morally and productively.”
Ummatee-C4PASS affirmed its readiness to collaborate with the government, development partners, and civil society to design and monitor a functional distance learning system, concluding that “Nigeria cannot afford to lose its future to insecurity. Education must continue no matter the circumstance.”