INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS AND THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN NIGERIA THROUGH OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING
The number of people who have been forcibly displaced across Nigeria and the sub-region either as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, Herdsmen/Farmers crisis, environmental or conflict-induced factors since the end of military rule in 1999 an be up to two million. A distinctive challenge facing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are structural conditions that deny them access to the right to religious education. This paper examines the role of open and distance learning in providing access to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. The paper adopts a mixed methodology which makes use of descriptive survey design, structured questionnaires, interviews and secondary sources for data collection and data analysis. Using two single modes of open and distance learning institutions: National Open University of Nigeria and National Teacher’s Institute, Kaduna, the study investigated how the mounting of certification programmes has significantly affected the availability, accessibility and adaptability framework delineating the content of the right to religious education for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. The paper recommends, amongst others, that a comprehensive framework should be put in place by the government in deploying accessible educational technologies to give those living in marginalized communities or refugee camps access to religious education in Nigeria.
Keywords: displaced, distance, education, internally, learning, nigeria, open, persons, religious