COVID-19 LOCK DOWN: APPLICATION OF E-LEARNING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA; CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS.

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has no doubt adversely affected the global economy. It has forced governments across the world to place restrictions on movement while exempting providers of services to strictly observe social distancing while providing services as a way to contain the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, the educational sector in Nigeria is grossly affected with roughly 10.3 million secondary school students been out of school as a result of the school closures with no or limited access to learning activities. To cushion the effects of the pandemic, the world is embracing technological innovations in many sectors; most especially, education. UNESCO has recommended the use of distance learning programmes, open educational applications and platforms by schools and teachers to reach learners remotely. While Nigerian government we reluctant about bringing out policy statement towards providing access to learning activities, most private secondary schools across the country are making use of the available technological resources to initiate e-learning programmes for learners at home. Laudable as these initiatives appears, it also faces militating challenges. This paper addresses the impact of COVID-19 on secondary school education, place of e-learning, its application, benefits and challenges of integrating e-learning in secondary school education in Nigeria. COVID-19, E-learning, E-learning Application, Education, Secondary School Education