Wording reaching us confirms, Kyambogo University has earmarked over 400M UGX to instate an online platform for all students to carry on with the remaining syllabus of the semester during the lockdown, digitally.
According to the Executive Director for the Directorate of Information Communications and Technology (DICTs), Dr John Okuonzi, management has officially permitted to set up the learning platforms.
He says the money will be used to train lecturers on using the digital tools, purchasing every necessary equipment and induct students. Kyambogo University will use Google classrooms, Zoom among other platforms.
The University Vice Chancellor, Prof Eli Katunguka asserts that the interruptions witnessed in teaching and learning in all institutions of learning in Uganda as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic demand that both staff and students change the way they operate.
“All teaching staff and students must embrace the use of the online tools and resources for teaching and assessment to enable continuity of the learning amid COVID-19” Prof Katunguka said.
He adds that students will have no other option, as this is the only option of attending classes. He noted that students can use the money they use for transport to classes, to buy data.
However, a section of students from the same university oppose the University’s move to put learning online saying, it’s unfair to the disadvantaged for example those without smartphones, laptops and poor network signals in their communites.
