By Abstract
This paper examines the concept of education and the practice of virtual education in Nigerian universities. The concept of education was analyzed and taken to mean all the activities that promote learning regardless of whether it takes place within or outside a school setting. The criteria for education were put forth to include any activity that is meaningful and worthwhile, promotes flexibility, openness to varieties of learning experiences, skill acquisition and indebt understanding of principles. Otherwise known as e-learning, virtual education is presented as an electronically aided means of facilitating teaching and learning at all levels of education. This could be via pre-recorded videotapes, zoom, google-meet, google classroom, and any other means excluding face to face contact. Unlike traditional patterns, it is not limited to time and place, promotes student-centred system, exposes students to a variety of learning materials, allows for active interaction and facilitates shared experiences among students from different backgrounds. Access to university education is therefore enhanced. Unlike developed countries, the combined problems of poor electricity, inadequate funding, insufficient computer compliant university teachers, poor facilities, lack of political will by the government are some of the problems bedevilling massive usage of virtual system in Nigerian universities. Thus, it is suggested that there should be increased funding and policy framework by relevant authorities to ensure effective application of virtual education in Nigerian universities. While the aptness of virtual education is undeniable, it is needful to consider the benefits of adopting a hybrid of virtual education and conventional schooling through comparative analysis.
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