By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan on Monday, announced the commencement of its Open Distance and Flexible e-Learning (ODFeL) for prospective admission seekers.
Addressing journalists at the launching of the programme, the institution’s Rector, Prof Kazeem Adebiyi said the concept behind the programme is to make education available to all students regardless of their distance and status.
Prof Adebiyi stressed that the programme would among others, assist the Polytechnic, Ibadan to delivered its mandate to students uninterrupted academic activities, adding that some students are interested in going to urban based institution but could not make it due to lack of fund and modern necessity’s,
Emphasizing that ODFeL was an avenue for such students to achieved their dream, the Rector pointed out that the mission of the institution as one of the best institutions was to be feasible, be online, and to be known all over the world.
“This program was approved in 2020 by National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), we are about taking off because all necessary requirements have been put in place in terms of technology and human resources to pilot the program”, he said
Prof Adebiyi added, ” working class students who couldn’t complete their studies due to tight schedule of their work will be able to complete their studies and obtain their degree, we want to ensure that this institution is in line with best practices.”
“2019 COVID was an eye opener, students couldn’t come to class, but with ODFeL, even if school is not open to business due to one reason or the other, we are not close to learning, this will give us a kind of uninterrupted academic activities.”
The Rector maintained further that the program would also gives opportunity to physically challenged people which movement might not allowed to go for regular class.
“NBTE accredited all our programs for ODFeL but we are starting with Accountancy, Business Administration, Computer Science, Mass Communication, Public Administration, and Local Government Studies, it will later expand to other programs as time goes on, by the time we run these six for a session, other programs will join by following session.”
According to the Rector, ” there is no need for students coming to class, they will only come to class when it’s time for examination in line with the policy of ODL as approved by NBTE, all lectures will be online except there is need for physical participation which will not take more than a week.”
“Though all admission to tertiary education is through JAMB, but is not that Polybadan ODFeL students are going to write examination unlike other regular students, they will also pass through JAMB for registration.”
He however said application for the program was through http://odfel.polyibadan.edu.ng, adding that application fee for National Diploma (ND) is N2,000, while N5,000 is for Higher National Diploma (HND).
