Tertiary Education and Blended Learning: Benefits, Challenges and Way Forward

This paper critically examined the place of blended learning in tertiary education in Nigeria. The paper specifically looked at the concept of blended learning, the benefits of blended learning in tertiary institutions and challenges militating against the development of blended learning in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Using secondary data collected from online publications and print materials, the paper concluded that blended learning should be integrated into tertiary education in Nigeria. The paper also, identified Capital intensive, shortage of infrastructure facilities, high cost of blended learning gadgets, poor internet service, unstable electricity and poor digital skills and knowledge as possible challenges militating against the development of blended learning in Nigerian tertiary education. Based on these findings, the paper recommends developing a national policy on tertiary education blended learning. Ingest huge funds into the tertiary institutions for the procurement and installation of facilities and infrastructure that will support the full usage of blended learning in all the institutions. Staff in the tertiary institutions should be organized in constant training and retraining programmes for to upgrade their ICT and digital skills and knowledge on the application of blended learning facilities.