Lagos State University (LASU) has issued a clarification on its enhanced blended learning policy, dismissing claims that students have been instructed to remain off campus.
The institution said the new arrangement affects only a limited number of courses and is designed to improve learning outcomes for large classes.
The university recently announced that any course with more than 400 students will transition to virtual delivery due to insufficient lecture-hall capacity and its ongoing commitment to digital learning.
According to an earlier report, LASU stated: “This decision has become necessary in view of the current constraints posed by limited physical lecture room capacities and is in line with the university’s digitalisation drive, which seeks to leverage technology for more efficient teaching and learning delivery.”
In a fresh statement released on Friday by Deputy Registrar Thomas-Onashile and Coordinator of the Centre for Information and Public Relations, Oluwayemisi A, LASU explained that out of the 4,095 courses offered across the institution, only 197 fall under the virtual-learning category. These are strictly high-enrolment courses with more than 400 registered students.
Posted on the university’s official X page, the management described the policy as a strategic intervention targeted at easing pressure on overcrowded lecture halls while sustaining the quality of academic delivery.
“The Lagos State University (LASU) Management hereby issues a clarification to correct significant misinformation circulating regarding its recently enhanced blended learning policy.
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“Contrary to reports suggesting a full shift to online learning, the university affirms that only 197 out of a total of 4,095 courses offered across the institution are delivered primarily online.
“These are specifically large lectures with enrolments exceeding 400 students. This targeted measure is designed to improve the quality of the learning experience for these high-enrolment courses and forms part of a strategic shift towards modern, blended pedagogy,” the statement said.
LASU stressed that the new policy does not affect the majority of academic activities on campus. Tutorials, seminars, laboratory classes, and smaller courses will continue to run physically.
Refuting the reports circulating online, the university cautioned against misleading narratives.
“The narrative that students are being told to ‘stay at home’ for online classes is factually incorrect and misleading. This policy affects less than 5% (about 197 courses out of 4095 courses offered) of the university’s total course offerings.
“Students are, and will remain fully engaged in campus life, with access to libraries, laboratories, sporting facilities, medical facilities, and the full spectrum of face-to-face (physical) teaching for the overwhelming majority of their timetabled activities,” the statement noted.
The institution added that the blended learning model aligns with global best practices and supports the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) push for e-learning integration in Nigerian universities. To facilitate the shift, LASU has strengthened campus Wi-Fi coverage, created ICT hubs, and improved power supply to reduce connectivity issues.
“The blended learning policy is fully aligned with the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) drive to integrate e-learning into the fabric of Nigerian higher education.
“To ensure no student is disadvantaged, LASU has made significant investments in support infrastructure, including upgraded campus-wide Wi-Fi, dedicated ICT hubs, and a reliable on-campus power supply to mitigate connectivity issues, among other initiatives,” the statement noted.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello reaffirmed that the approach is intentional and rooted in data.
“The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, hereby reiterates the university’s commitment to transparency, as a University committed to excellence, we are duty-bound to adopt innovative teaching methods that serve our students best,” the statement said.
LASU encouraged students and parents to depend on official communication platforms to avoid misinformation. It added that the blended policy represents a forward-thinking step toward delivering a more robust and modern academic environment.
“This precise data-driven approach for a small subset of our courses is a prudent academic decision, not an administrative shortcut. It allows us to optimise our physical resources while preparing our students for the digital world.
“We encourage our students and parents to seek accurate information through our official channels, and to view this policy not as a retreat from responsibility, but as a bold step toward a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready LASU,” the statement added.
