By Roland Rocs
With the Online Learning that just kick started for continuing students (non-finalists) at Makerere University (MAK), our snoops have established that students and their lecturers are already knocking heads over the distance learning move.
A student at one of the Colleges at MAK whose identity remains concealed poured his brain out to one of his lecturers, who according to the screenshots Campus Bee has seen, was trying to enforce the online learning classes.
The lecturer, in his message to the class (through the WhatsApp group) made himself clear saying that there should be no excuse for submission of the course works through MUELE (Makerere Online Learning platform).
The lecturer further took his stand and called upon the students in the group to watch the language they use while communicating.
“Nobody forced you to join the University…” the lecturer’s message reads in part.
“Those who don’t wish to study can leave. The University programs must continue and be implemented as agreed” the lecturer’s communication adds.
The lecturer’s communication was received with all sorts of reaction, majority of which (if not all) were negative about the online learning.
The group was all bought to an extra ordinary splendor when one of the students, who in response to the lecturer’s messages, spit venom in return.
“Start posting like a lecturer who has kids not like a mindless human” the student’s bitter response read in part.
Online Learning at most of the Universities, most especially public universities still remains a hot debate given limitations surrounding access, flexibility and practicality of the method of learning on the side of the learners who are distributed all over the country since the university closure in March to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.
Since the distance learning move came into the pipeline, sections of students have cried out describing it as unfavorable and expensive.
Some of the Makerere students Campus Bee talked to also say, they were not consulted first, before the e-learning was made official to the University, a reason they give for collision between them and their lecturers about the learning method.
Meanwhile, as indicated in various plans and communications from the Administration, Makerere University kicked off the Online Distance Learning (ODEL) on October 5th.
However, one question that still remains unclear is whether the online method of learning is effective since it started at Makerere and are students really embracing it?