E-Learning Readiness in Higher Education Institutions in Nigeria during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated the closure of schools and higher institutions worldwide. Most schools resorted to online learning without considering its attendant effects. Most institutions in the developing countries that were stocked with traditional face-to-face learning method migrated to online learning unprepared. The study, therefore, evaluates lecturers’ readiness for e-learning in higher education institutions in Nigeria amid COVID-19 pandemic.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: To achieve this, a structured questionnaire was administered to 324 lecturers in selected federal, state, and private universities in Nigeria. The study adopts a quantitative research method. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
 Findings: Findings reveal that Nigerian universities were not ready for e-learning prior to COVID-19 pandemic as the needed critical components to take-off e-learning were not available. Study indicates that resource utilization, resource availability, and e-learning facilitations are the critical factors that affected e-learning readiness in Nigeria universities amid COVID-19. Other challenges include internet unreliability, unavailability of e-learning pedagogy, and lack of prerequisite skills for the instructors and the learners.
 Research Limitations/Implications: A major limitation of the study is the failure to evaluate the challenges of e-learning readiness from the students’ perspective. This limitation creates opportunities for further research into the subject matter. Despite this limitation, the findings from the study have potential implications for university management stakeholders, education policy maker, and e-learning implementation in Nigeria HEIs.
 Originality/Value: Given the fact that e-learning is still a new method of teaching in HEIs in Nigeria, switching to this method of teaching unprepared poses a major challenge for both the learners and instructors. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate facilitators and beneficiaries’ readiness to embark on this new method of learning.