The impact of covid-19 pandemic on the management of higher education in Nigeria

Abstract

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a downturn in the global economy, and has had different and far-reaching effects on the higher education system. The abrupt closure of educational institutions as a measure to forestall the transmission of the coronavirus compelled the face-to-face method of teaching to transform to the virtual mode. The pandemic has uncovered the strengths and flaws of the contemporary higher education system. This study examined the impact of the pandemic on the management of higher education in Nigeria. It traced the historical development of pandemics in the world, and analysed the distinct but related areas where higher education institutions have been impacted by COVID-19: students’ assessment; planning of the examination system; cost of higher education; accreditation of academic programmes; teaching and learning as well as research and organization and attendance of academic conferences. Higher education institutions need to plan education in the post-COVID-19 era as well as take on new strategies to guarantee the desired education outcomes. This could be achieved through the adoption of blended learning which emphasizes a combination of traditional face-to-face and online learning.