LECTURERS READINESS FOR VIRTUAL TEACHING IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the use of non-physical modes for teaching by
university lecturers. This, to a large extent, is a new normal in many universities particularly in southwestern Nigeria. Therefore, this paper examined the readiness for virtual teaching in universities in the
south-western part of the country. This study employed quantitative survey approach with academic staff
members of the six federal government owned universities in the region as the population. The sample
comprised 100 respondents each from three selected universities given a total of 300 respondents for this
study. The selection of both the respondents and universities was done using the random sampling
technique to allow for equal chance of selection. A Virtual Teaching in Nigerian Universities Questionnaire
(VTNUQ) was designed and circulated electronically to respondents while percentages were computed to
answer the research questions for the study. It was found that access to computer by lecturers was higher
in terms of ownership of personal computer (home) while only a few have access to computers in the office.
The study also found that lecturers’ access to the internet is prominent in the office and universities’ library
while home access to internet is low. Furthermore, the study found that lecturers are mostly not exposed
to virtual teaching, except a few of them. Consequently, it recommended that government through the
university management should improve funding for universities to make adequate provisions for teaching
gadgets and facilities that would aid virtual process of instructional delivery.
KEYWORDS: Lecturers Readiness, Virtual Teaching, Deadly Disease, New Normal and Non-Pharmaceutical
Precautions.
______________________
*CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: AJADI Olugbenga Timothy, Department of Educational Management, Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Email: ajagbesope@yahoo.co.uk Tel (+234) 7029890275