COVID-19 Has Changed The World Education System, Including Deaf Education – DTAN president

Deaf Teachers Association of Nigeria, (DTAN) a body of teaching professionals across the country has reacted to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global education system and the international response through the use of technology.

President of the Associations, Olaniyi Temitope spoke on the issue with our correspondent after the body concluded the maiden edition of its National Quiz Competition for Deaf students in Senior Secondary School. The event was virtual owing to COVID-19 protocols.

While explaining how the Quiz Competition was conducted, Temitope remarked on how deaf education has been affected by the changes ushered in by the pandemic, adding that the association also had to move along with trends across the world.

“How to cope with teaching deaf children in post Covid-19 era should be our great concern now at DTAN, remarked Tope.

“We sent questions to the students on WhatsApp. The students accessed the questions through link provided and responded. A presenter was on ground to receive the answers from these students. Teacher guides were connected with the Quiz presenter and Observers on Zoom. Through the Zoom meeting, both presenter and observers monitor students on seat with teachers behind them. Under this arrangement, both presenter and observers could monitor the whole process.

Mr. Tope however noted that the method didn’t come exactly smoothly as there were some challenges in the process. For example, some students, as in the case of Plateau State students, missed the competition because of network issues.

Notwithstanding, Temitope expressed optimism that the virtual approach will give the students much needed exposure to ICT and online learning tools which, in turn, will help them participate better in future editions.