Education, as it was in the 19th century, has evolved into something very different. Previously, it was all about the teacher who believed they had all the knowledge, and pupils were the empty vessels that needed to be filled with this knowledge from the teacher. The teacher-centred learning was rudimentary and mostly "chalk and talk", class exercises, homework and assessment.
We did not have the internet, technology or comfortable props like chairs, tables or textbooks.
The primary school I attended is currently being reformed into a model school, and the secondary school I attended just got an interactive ICT laboratory donated by Samsung.

How are students currently participating in online and offline educational activities?

With the Samsung smart class at Uyo High School, students can log in from home and participate in ongoing lessons. We really don't have many such facilities, but we are coming up slowly but steadily. The Nigerian Communication Commission has been setting up ICT laboratories across Nigeria, and private companies like IBBIL have also made real impacts in both public and private primary and secondary schools.
At the least, students in some schools can practically engage with ICT devices during school hours. Create documents with wordprocessors, work on spreadsheet presentations and graphic applications. They can learn from online sources like khan Academy

Other websites that provide high-quality educational content are:

1. Coursera: Offers online courses from some top universities anywhere in the world..
2. edX: Provides a lot of open online courses used by leading institutions.
3. MIT OpenCourseWare: Free online course materials from MIT.
4. Crash Course: Provides a lot of engaging video lessons on various subjects.
5. TED-Ed: Makes Educational videos available on a wide range of topics for students.

Access to Wikipedia is free in Nigeria. And has always proved helpful for my students.

How effective is the use of technology in the current education system?

We have always had with us the poor, the middle class people and the rich. The educational reality for children in rich families differs from what middle class or poor families can afford. A kid from a rich family will attend a school with access to technology in various forms, but these are a select few. The majority falls among the middle class, who can afford a private school with little access to technology, and the poor, who go to public schools.
Few public schools that have computers do not have competent teachers, and there is no power to run the equipment. Worst of all, teachers will not use such equipment because, in the event of it being faulty, there is nobody to repair it.
Yes, we know how important it is to have ICT knowledge, but we don't have a system that makes it available to all.

What impact does the current teaching methodology have on students' mental health and concentration?

While elite schools and students have become accustomed to the use of technology in education, the average Nigerian student is still feeling distracted by the presence of a computer in the room. Their closest encounter with a computer is that which is drawn on the blackboard.
Based on the majority, we have not incorporated technology into our classrooms yet. But we have a majority that has got a lot of exposure to technology.
In general, our education only recently accepted the use of a calculator in the University entrance examination, and the calculator allowed only limited basic functions.

How can the existing disparities between urban and rural areas in education be addressed?

To address the differences between rich, poor, urban and rural education. Provide the devices and a working system that will keep it running. The rich are expected to pay for their education in private schools, but the poor are offered free education that lacks quality. A child from a public school can not compare with a child who passed through a private school.

Supply and secure the ICT devices, and mandate the patent/ teachers association to oversee the use of the facility. Nigeria is rich enough to provide power for these units in the form of solar and has a unit that goes around to maintain this equipment.

Conclusion and Invitation

We are definitely making progress with the use of technology in education, it is slow but stady.
My invitation to participate goes to the following friends: @dequeen, @eliany and @udyliciouz

Media Credit

Composer	@manuelhooks
Graphics from	Galaxy-A15
Entry type	Contest participation
Organizer	@memamun
Community	Teachers & Students
Date	Wed.. 28th May
	(@) 2025