The resultant effects of COVID- 19 pandemic on education in Nigeria: A need to review special education programme

Abstract

Education remains an important key to open doors of enlightenment and shut doors of ignorance. For more than a year now, the whole nations of the universe are faced with a virus called "corona", which has claimed millions of lives. As such, communities of the whole world shut all entrances into their territories to avoid complications of the virus. The world system economy, education, health sector, politics, religion and the likes have been tremendously affected. The situation was not different in Nigeria. Education being a pillar that controls all other systems is in shambles as a result of the lockdown in the country. Schools were closed down since March 2020 until late September 2020 when there was a directive from the Federal government of Nigeria to open the schools for JSS 3 and SSS 3 classes to write their terminal national and international examinations before the resumption of other levels was considered thereafter. Obviously, like other schools in the country, the already planned curriculum of Special Education cannot be effectively implemented, hence there is the need for a review in order to achieve the expected goals. It is therefore recommended that government should work through the Ministry of Education to make adequate review of the curriculum. Teachers of Special Education should be up and doing in working with counselling specialists to put in all the technological knowhow of the profession in ensuring the achievement of the various objectives of Education through effective implementation.