CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1                Background of the study

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), corona viruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). These viruses were originally transmitted from animals to people. SARS, for instance, was transmitted from civet cats to humans while MERS moved to humans from a type of camel. Several known corona viruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. The name corona virus comes from the Latin word corona, meaning crown or halo. Under an electron microscope, the looks like it are surrounded by a solar corona. The novel corona virus, identified by Chinese authorities on January 7 and since named SARS-CoV-2, is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans (Wikipedia, 2020). Chinese health authorities are still trying to determine the origin of the virus, which they say likely, came from a seafood market in Wuhan, China where wildlife was also traded illegally. On February 7, Chinese researchers said the virus could have spread from an infected animal species to humans through illegally trafficked pangolins, which are prized in Asia for food and medicine. Scientists have pointed to either bats or snakes as possible sources of the virus. According to the WHO, signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, multiple organ failure, and even death. Current estimates of the incubation period - the time between infection and the onset of symptoms - ranging from one to 14 days. Most infected people show symptoms within five to six days. However, infected patients can also be asymptomatic, meaning they do not display any symptoms despite having the virus in their systems (Wikipedia, 2020). On 27 February, Nigeria confirmed its first case in Lagos State, an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria had returned on 25 February from Milan, Italy through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, fell ill on 26 February, and was transferred to Lagos State Bio-security Facilities for isolation and testing. In order to contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education directed all educational institutions in Nigeria to shut down and allow students to go home as cases of reported COVID-19 increased. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, told reporters on 19th March that the directive was part of the country’s overall strategy to contain the spread of the virus (Wikipedia, 2020). The directive affected all the educational institutions in Nigeria including the primary schools. All aspects of the educational system were affected. Jegede (2020) observes that the temporary closure of educational institutions in an attempt to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the World has a negative effect on students learning. The Covid-19 pandemic, in no small measure, has adversely affected primary education, especially in the area of literacy ability (Osiesi, 2021; Bao et al., 2020) as well as effective learning among learners.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is tracking the impact of the pandemic on education. As of March 30, they estimate that 87 percent of the world’s students—that is 1.5 billion learners—have been affected by school closures. The bulk of these students are enrolled in primary and secondary schools, but there are also millions of students affected at the pre-primary and tertiary education levels. More than 180 countries have shut school doors nationwide, while others have implemented localized school closures.(Wikipedia, 2020).

1.2               Statement of research problem

The corona virus pandemic disrupted so many activities all over the world. In the case of Nigeria, the country was on a lock down which disrupted academic activities from primary to tertiary level of education in Nigeria, social activities were also affected. And so this study will help in knowing the causes and effect of covid-19 pandemic on educational system in Nigeria, and also, how the pandemic disrupted academic calender of schools , how it reduced the eagerness to learn on students, all these, and more will be further examined in the study.

1.3               Objectives of the study

 This study is guided by the following objectives;

l  To examine the causes and effect of Covid-19 virus Nigerian Education system,

l  To determine the relationship between COVID 19 virus pandemic and education in Nigeria,

l  To evaluate the awareness of COVID-19 virus among students in Nigeria.

l   to evaluate the after effect of Covid-19 pandemic on education system in Nigeria.

1.4               Research questions

The following questions have been prepared for this research which are:

1.    Does Covid-19 pandemic have any significant impact on education in Nigeria?

2.    Is there a relationship between covid-19 pandemic and education in Nigeria?

3.    Are there any awareness programme on covid-19 virus among Nigerian students?

4.    Does covid-19 have after effect on education system in Nigeria?

1.5           Research Hypothesis

H01: Covid-19 pandemic does not have any significant impact on education in Nigeria

Hi1: Covid-19 pandemic  have a significant impact on education in Nigeria.

1.6               Significance of the study

The significance of this study cannot be underestimated as:

l  This study will lay emphasis on causes and effect of covid-19 on the educational system in Nigeria

l  The findings of this research work will undoubtedly provide the much needed information to government organizations, ministry of education, and academia.

1.7               Scope of the study

This study intends to examine the causes and effect of covid-19 on educational system in Nigeria. Hence , residents in Lagos state  will  be used as a case study.

1.8               Limitations of the study

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data

Financial constraint , was faced by  the researcher ,in getting relevant materials  and  in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher

1.9               Operational definition of terms

Covid-19: this  is a disease caused by a new strain of corona virus. 'CO' stands for corona, 'VI' for virus, and 'D' for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as '2019 novel corona virus' or '2019-nCoV.

Educational system: this comprises of everything that goes into educating public school student at the federal , state, or community levels.