Educating Children in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) Camps through Blended Learning: Prospects and Challenges (Published)
Education occupies a central place in human rights. It is essential and indispensable for the exercise of all other human rights and for general societal development. Internally displaced people (IDPs) are considered as most vulnerable due to the increased demands of IDPs for essential public services and livelihoods. The children in these camps also face a lot of hardship with little or no education because of overcrowding and influx of people, especially in the North East of Nigeria. Blended Learning is a hybrid of face-to-face (F-T-F) and computer mediated form of instruction. As an instructional strategy it harnesses the better of the two methods to improve the instructional process especially of the children in IDP camp Schools which are usually over crowded with on the spot recruited teachers. Some challenges envisaged were inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, ready computer literate teachers and specialized manpower for the e-learning platform. It was recommended that educating displaced children in IDP camps should be given more concerted effort by more NGOs, Humanitarian organization, Philanthropists and not left for the host government alone. This is because the children are at the heritage of the future and investing in them educationally is vital for a healthy society for today and tomorrow.
Keywords: : Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Instructional Strategies, blended learning, children