Kyambogo University is experiencing challenges with online learning following failure by most students to access key materials and gadgets for the same.
The administration of the institution is now urging parents and guardians to prioritize the purchase of e-learning gadgets to enable student to attend online lessons especially during the continued closure of educational institutions.
Since the closure of learning institutions, some schools and universities resorted to online teaching with students learning remotely from home. However, considered the best alternative to physical classes, some universities have now pointed out challenges with online-classes.
The University Vice Chancellor Eli Katunguka says there are a number of problems associated with online lectures including access and the cost of data;
“These challenges include the cost of data. Data is still expensive in this country. Then lack of access wherever students stay, there may be lack of power to charge them, and then lack of these gadgets.”
Kyambogo University is now demanding that parents and guardians to invest in key learning materials and gadgets.
The Vice Chancellor says parents need to buy their students these gadgets so as to foster their learning with the current mode;
“It is very unfortunate for students to sit at home and be idle for months and months and then when the schools re-open they get back to the routine of attending classes and doing home work, it may be a bit cumbersome. We encourage parents that can afford, to buy their students these items so continue learning,” Katunguka said.
Not materials alone, the available modes of learning like zoom have also been found to be problematic especially in terms of time.
“The current zoom allows few people to participate and allows you for a few minutes which is about an 45 minutes. So, we are looking at 3000 dollars which is not a lot of money.”
This as the university addressed the media on its 17th graduation ceremony scheduled for next month.
