University Heads Reserved on Online Learning, Claim Students Aren’t Equipped

As a way of keeping students busy in this lockdown, the Ministry of Education and Sports legalized higher institutions of learning to rollout online studies (e-learning) to their students.

In order to benefit all students, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) issued guidelines to institutions that will commence online studies and these included ensuring that all students can access e-learning materials.

However, to some institutions, most of the guidelines are inapplicable since most of the families have been affected by the lockdown.

According to Professor Robert Ikoja-Odongo Vice Chancellor Soroti University, many families are already facing financial challenges as a result of the lockdown, it might not be easy to have all of the students enrolled on the e-learning platforms but institutions are already prepared.

“For us as a university we are ready but then some students need to acquire the equipment. If we say that we wait for each and everybody then when will this take place? I think this is a great challenge,” Prof Odongo advises.

Gulu University Vice Chancellor Professor George Ladaah Openjuru suggests that although students would like to attend, they are already restricted by technology.

“Unless that is addressed, a few of the students in remote areas will be part of this programme. The government should have tasked universities on this aspect since for us we are developing platforms and having our staff trained,” he articulates.

Makerere University Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Professor Umar Kakumba suggests that it would be better if this specific guideline is enforced by the government itself by providing equipment and infrastructure to ensure that no student is left behind.