The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) decision to resort to online learning has been met with a virtual protest by students.
The university announced that the second term would start on Monday, but online due to the coronavirus virus. The announcement was followed by outrage on social media – with students saying that online education is unaffordable.
A student from Malamulele in Limpopo says data and network coverage are the main issues of contention.
“So far I have spent R800 from the first of April until now, that’s how much I’ve spent on data. The problem is the network because I’m using Telkom and here at home, there’s no coverage. The thing that will affect my online learning is network because we really do not have network here in the rural areas.”
I fail to understand why the institution continues with academic activities uploading assignments and online tests whereas they haven’t addressed the elephant in the room which is that majority of the students come from poor working class and they don’t have resources to access.
— Mpai (@AbbyMpai) April 16, 2020
Admin
Can you please address on the matter of blackboard, is there a resolution in talks or we should be ready to struggle with data?
— Phil (@MavundlaPhillip) April 16, 2020
However, UJ says it is trying to come up with a workable solution.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Term 2 will start on 20 April 2020, and all teaching and learning for the term will happen online.
Follow the link below, to help you get prepared for learning remotely:https://t.co/j88IWiMJ5L
Check out the @UJLibrary for various online training pic.twitter.com/eCpirMbDrc
— University of Johannesburg (@go2uj) April 16, 2020
Wits gives laptops to students
Wits University, also in Johannesburg, has made available 5 000 laptops to assist students as the institution gears up to resume classes on Monday. The institution is also switching to remote online learning due to COVID-19.
? IMPORTANT NOTICE: Wits has
5000 new laptops ? in the Wits Computing Bank allocated for students who need them. All Wits students will get 30GB free data for a month to kickstart their online learning. We are here to walk this journey with you. Read: https://t.co/JqX4oJ52ru pic.twitter.com/1TpzWM5JkT— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) April 17, 2020
Some have welcomed the news.
Wits gives them the edge.??
— RuralTswanaGirl (@_Dineo_M) April 17, 2020
Please increase the number of laptops. 5000 is not even 20% of the student populous
— Koketso_Montjane (@_06_33) April 17, 2020
I hope other Universities in the RSA can@learn from you @WitsUniversity @ministerdrblad1
— Pontsho Ramila (@pontsho_ramila) April 17, 2020
Lidashiphu??
— Nkwali™️? (@somkheleomkhulu) April 17, 2020
The university closed for its mid-term break in March, four days earlier than scheduled to minimise the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
A student had tested positive for the virus and was subsequently placed under quarantine.
Wits says they have spent the past few weeks adapting their academic programme to go online.
?? ANNOUNCEMENT: Wits University institutes an emergency remote teaching & learning programme. #HigherEdTogether
The University will open for the second term online from 20 April 2020.Wits has considered issues like access to computing devices & data: https://t.co/53ySN1MOs5 pic.twitter.com/8dTngUaaJJ— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) April 14, 2020
This has happened largely through the university’s learning management systems to develop additional resources for remote learning and in preparing to host the sites online.