The former Kyambogo University guild aspirant, Mbaziira John Senior, has lashed at NCHE and President Museveni for suspending education for three more months.
On Wednesday 27th January, the National Council of Higher Education(NCHE) halted the reopening of higher institutions of learning. President Museveni reechoed the halt this has received various views from different groups of people.
In a VPN connected WhatsApp interview with the hive, Mbaziira said that there is no reason President Museveni has given to halt the reopening of schools and higher institutions of learning.
“You have slowed down the internet and you are telling us to embrace online studies?” He questioned.
“It is just a way of keeping his grip onto power. Parents had sacrificed a lot to make sure that students have their tuition and needs and just hours to reopening of Universities, he announced postponement. It is so shameful and a mockery that the president does not consider the common people as he says such.” He said.
He further said that many lectures were using WhatsApp and Zoom to communicate with students but its is now almost becoming impossible. He says that the blocking of play store and AppStore does not allow students to download most of the apps that are needed for online studies.
“Our first step will be engaging the University management and later we will see how to react to what will come from the management.”
Mbaziira, whose guild presidential campaigns during the pre-COVID-19 were based on the common students and education reforms, did not get out of the limelight due to the pandemic. He has continued to engage the students on different University and government programs as well as comment on national issues over time.
He also told us that by now the government should learn how to live with Covid-19 just like it is in many other countries.
“An attack on education is an attack on national development. Waking up and saying that you are postponing studies is like punching holes in the education system. Kyambogo and other universities have professors and think tanks who should instead be the ones guiding the politicians rather than politicians guiding them.” He further said.
Mbaziira also called on the University management to consider the students with special needs since all online tools do not consider most of them. He also said that the online learning has benefited a handful of students since there is low internet penetration in the country.
