Universities have asked the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and Ministry of Education to re-evaluate guidelines limiting them from implementing online learning (e-learning) without all students.
This comes weeks after the Minister of Education and Sports instructed Universities to ensure that online mode of learning doesn’t exclude any continuing student. Its after that NCHE ordered Universities to get students consent in participating in the online learning.
However, several heads of universities argue that the guidelines are not feasible and inappropriate.
Makerere University Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof Umar Kakumba says although the idea is good, it puts universities at a difficult test and might be very difficult to be achieved given the fact that even during normal days it is difficult to have all students in the class.
Kakumba further observes 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.
The Gulu University Vice-Chancellor Prof George Ladaah Openjuru highlights that whereas students would like to attend, they are already limited by technology.
Professor Robert Ikoja-Odongo, Vice-Chancellor of Soroti University argues that although the universities have been getting ready for this approach having all students attending e-learning will stall their efforts.
“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,” he said.
