Students’ Assessment of Open Distance Learning Programmes and Services in Nigeria: A Comparative Description of Three Selected Distance Learning Institutions

  • Sunday A. Itasanmi Department of Adult Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,  Nigeria
  • Mathew T. Oni Department of Early Childhood and Educational Foundations, University of Ibadan, Nigeria,  Nigeria
  • Omobola O. Adelore Department of Adult Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria,  Nigeria
Keywords: Comparative description Nigeria, ODL programmes and services, Open Distance Learning, Students’ assessment

Abstract

This study reported students' assessment of open and distance learning programmes and services vis-à-vis teaching and learning experience, educational resources, technical support service and infrastructural facilities in ODL institutions in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and the participants for the study comprised of 719 students randomly drawn from three purposively selected ODL institutions in Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for the study. Quantitative data generated from the survey were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) while the qualitative data was content analysed. Result of the study showed that students enrol in open and distance learning programmes majorly as a result of the flexibility in learning. While students relatively rate their teaching & learning experience, educational resources and available infrastructural facilities in their universities good, they, however, rate technical support services provided in the ODL institutions as being poor. A comparative analysis of the students’ assessment in the three institutions revealed that there exists a statistically significant difference in teaching & learning experiences, available educational resources, technical support services and infrastructural facilities in the institutions. Based on the findiings of the study, some recommendation were made.

Abstract View: 964 PDF Download: 470
Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Abimbola, A.E., Omolara, W.O., & Fatimah, Y.T. (2015). Assessing the impact of open and distance learning (ODL) in enhancing the status of women in Lagos state. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 174, 1512-1520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.782

Aderinoye, R., & Ojokheta, K. (2004). Open-distance education as a mechanism for sustainable development: Reflections on the Nigerian experience. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v5i1.174

Adewale, O., & Inegbedion, J. (2008). Solving the problem of attrition in an open and distance learning institution. Academia.edu - Share research. https://www.academia.edu/664282/Solving_the_Problem_of_Attrition_in_an_Open_and_Distance_Learning_Institution

Ahmadi, M. (2017, October 29). Higher education and national development. Daily Outlook Afghanistan, the Leading Independent Newspaper. https://www.outlookafghanistan.net/topics.php?post_id=19291

Ajadi, T.O., Salawu, I.O., & Adeoye, F.A. (2008). E-Learning and distance education in Nigeria. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 7(4), Article 7. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED503472.pdf

Ajayi, T.B., & Dzever, L.T. (2018). Perceived challenges to the development and expansion of open education resources of distance learning programme in Nigeria. Journal of Popular Education in Africa. 2(3), 42–59. https://www.academia.edu/43962312/Perceived_Challenges_to_the_Development_and_Expansion_of_Open_Education_Resources_of_Distance_Learning_Programme_in_Nigeria

Anaekwe M., & Nnaka, C. (2017) Challenges of Teaching and Learning Science at a Distance in National Open University of Nigeria. In: Maringe F., Ojo E. (eds) Sustainable Transformation in African Higher Education. Sense Publishers, Rotterdam. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-902-7_14

Darvas, P., Bawany, B., Darvas, P., Gao, S., & Shen, Y. (2017). Sharing higher educations promise beyond the few in Sub-Saharan Africa. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1050-3

Gaskell A. (2017) Open Distance Learning. In: Peters M.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of educational philosophy and theory. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-588-4_215

Ghosh, S., Nath, J., Agarwal, S., & Nath, A. (2012). Open and Distance Learning (ODL) education system: Past, present and future – A systematic study of an alternative education system. Journal of Global Research in Computer Science, 3(4), 53-57. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/OPEN-AND-DISTANCE-LEARNING-%28ODL%29-EDUCATION-SYSTEM-%E2%80%93-Ghosh-Nath/498535f38dd0a7f64352f0382e41fa241c973199

Ikegulu, B., & Oranusi, S. (2014). Distance and open learning in Nigeria: Progress, Concerns and Prospects. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(35), 167-171. https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEP/article/view/17699/18080

Irungu, M.B. (2016). Factors influencing learners’ satisfaction with distance learning: A case of bachelor of education (Arts) University of Nairobi, Kenya. UoN Digital Repository Home. https://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/97543/Bonifes_Report.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Isuku, E.J. (2018). Challenges and prospects of ICT facilities in improving access to the open distance learning programme of African universities: Research evidence from Nigeria. US-China Education Review A, 8(6). https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-623x/2018.06.004

Jegede, O. (2016). Open and distance learning practices in Nigerian higher institutions of learning. Home. https://www.olugbemirojegede.com/odl_practices_in_tertiary_institutions_in_nigeria.pdf

Jimoh, M. (2013). An appraisal of the open and distance learning programme in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 4(3), 1–8. https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEP/article/view/4486

Kazeem, Y. (2017). Only one in four Nigerians applying to university will get a spot. Quartz Africa. https://qz.com/africa/915618/only-one-in-four-nigerians-applying-to-university-will-get-a-spot/

Khumalo, S.S. (2018). Improving student success rate in open distance learning settings through the principle of constructive alignment. Trends in E-learning, 31-44. doi:10.5772/intechopen.75637

Messo, I.N. (2014). Students' Perception of the quality of open and distance learning programmes in Tanzania. Huria: Journal of the Open University of Tanzania, 18(1), 119–134. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/huria/article/view/118923

Mohamedbhai, G. (2015). Higher education in Africa: Facing the challenges in the 21st century. International Higher Education, (63), 1-6. doi:10.6017/ihe.2011.63.8534

Musingafi, M.C., Mapuranga, B., Chiwanza, K., & Zebron, S. (2015). Challenges for Open and Distance learning (ODL) Students: experiences from students of the Zimbabwe Open University. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(18), 59-66. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1079750.pdf

Mutambo, N.H., Aguti, J.N., & Winterbottom, M. (2018). Effectiveness of study centres in supporting open and distance learning at Makerere University. Makerere Journal of Higher Education, 10(1), 45–59. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/majohe.v10i1.3

Mutanana, N. (2019). Open and distance learning in rural communities of Zimbabwe: Exploring challenges faced by Zimbabwe open university students in Kadoma District, Zimbabwe. Asian Journal of Humanity, Art and Literature, 6(1), 49-58. doi:10.18034/ajhal.v6i1.349

National Universities Commission. Open distance & E-learning. National Universities Commision. https://www.nuc.edu.ng/project/open-and-distance-education/

Ndayambaje, I., Bimenyimana, T., & Ndahayo, V. (2013). A study on the practices and challenges of Distance Training Programme (DTP) under Kigali Institute of Education (KIE). Rwandan Journal of Education, 1(2), 69–76. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/rje/article/view/111574

Ofoha, D. (2012). Contribution of open and distance learning programmes to human capacity development: The case of the primary education programme of the national Open University of Nigeria. Makerere Journal of Higher Education, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.4314/majohe.v3i2.10

Ogili, E. (2008). Distance education network for strengthening the education movement in Nigeria. Hybrid Learning and Education, 463-471. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85170-7_41

Okonkwo, C.A. (2012). A needs assessment of ODL educators to determine their effective use of open educational resources. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 13(4), 293. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v13i4.1316

Olakulehin, F.K. (2008). Open and distance education as a strategy for human capital development in Nigeria. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 23(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680510802051939

Ouma, R., & Nkuyubwatsi, B. (2019). Transforming university learner support in open and distance education: Staff and students perceived challenges and prospects. Cogent Education, 6(1), 1-15. doi:10.1080/2331186x.2019.1658934

Qayyum, A., & Zawacki-Richter, O. (2019). The state of open and distance education. Springer briefs in education open and distance education in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, 125–140. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-5787-9_14

Rashid, M.M., Jahan, M., Islam, M.A., & Ratna, M.M. (2015). Student enrollment and dropout: An evaluation study of diploma in computer science and application program at Bangladesh open university. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 16(4), 18-32. doi:10.19173/irrodl.v16i4.2157

Reju, C.O., & Jita, L. (2018). Instructional delivery and students’ experiences with distance and online learning of undergraduate mathematics in Nigeria. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 19(2), 111-125. doi:10.19173/irrodl.v19i2.3196

Sarkhel, J. K. (2014). Learner support in open and distance learning. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282133420_Learner_Support_in_Open_and_Distance_Learning

Soetan, A.K., Udoh, G.M., & Suleiman, Z. (2015). Problems and prospects of open and distance learning: A case of the Ilorin study centre. Malaysian Journal of Distance Education, 17(1), 33-40. http://mjde.usm.my/vol17_1_2015/MJDE%2017(1)%202015%20%20Art.%203(33-40).pdf

Tait, A. (2000). Planning student support for open and distance learning. Open learning: The Journal of open, distance and e-learning, 15(3), 287-299. doi:10.1080/713688410

Teixeira, J., Amoroso, J., & Gresham, J. (2017). Why education infrastructure matters for learning. World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/education/why-education-infrastructure-matters-learning

UNESCO. (2002). Open and distance learning: trends, policy and strategy considerations. UNESDOC Digital Library. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000128463

Yusuf, M. O. (2006). Problems and prospects of open and distance education in Nigeria. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE, 7(1), 22-29. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED494408.pdf

Published
2020-10-31
How to Cite
Sunday A. Itasanmi, Mathew T. Oni, & Omobola O. Adelore. (2020). Students’ Assessment of Open Distance Learning Programmes and Services in Nigeria: A Comparative Description of Three Selected Distance Learning Institutions. IJORER : International Journal of Recent Educational Research, 1(3), 191-208. https://doi.org/10.46245/ijorer.v1i3.64
Section
Articles
Abstract viewed = 964 times
PDF downloaded = 470 times