Home News Online learning during Covid-19 will only perpetuate privilege

Online learning during Covid-19 will only perpetuate privilege

by Salaamedia

By Masai Buthane

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Salaamedia’s editorial stance. 

On 15 March 2020, the President declared the national state of disaster in line with the Disaster Management Act. That included, inter alia, that schools will be closed from 18 March 2020 until after the Easter weekend. On the same day, the President stated that the Minister of Higher Education is consulting vice-chancellors of universities around the country on the measures taken by the government. Following that announcement, teaching and learning at institutions of higher education were suspended until further notice.

On 22 March 2020, the President announced that the country will enter a nationwide lockdown. The lockdown would prohibit individuals from leaving their homes, unless in certain circumstances or to perform an essential service. Universities – post this announcement – instructed students to relocate to their respective homes, however, granting a concession to students who were unable to do so, for various reasons. Teaching and learning were further suspended until the end of the initial 21-day lockdown. On 9 March 2020, the President extended the lockdown until the end of this month (April).

Universities at this stage had come with a plan to introduce online learning, where students would be able to access lectures, complete assignment and assessments online. The University of Johannesburg and Witwatersrand University have announced that (online) learning will resume on Monday, 20 April 2020. These Universities, however, failed to provide a proper plan regarding online learning.

Online learning is a good idea in a time of crisis such as the one we are currently facing, but online learning without a thorough plan is a nemesis for students because it does not take into consideration the poor and middle-class students. Numerous students do not own devices, they cannot afford data, they do not have proper network at home. Many do not even own hard nor soft copies of textbooks. They rely solely on campus PCs, Wi-Fi, and textbooks from the library.

So, what is the solution?

The National Coronavirus Command Council should consider easing the lockdown regulations at the end of the current lockdown period. In doing so, they should allow a gradual retake of students in their respective campus residences. This can be done through the issuing of permits to students who do not have access to instruments necessary for online learning. This would allow students to access university Wi-Fi, textbooks, devices, etc. Those students – by being provided with permits – should be declared “essential students”, and be allowed to go on and off-campus and utilise the infrastructure that is already there. Thereafter, we would be able to identify students that still do not have access to devices, data, etc. Needless to say, health protocols must be observed when implementing these recommendations.

Another recommendation is, whether or not integrated to the above, universities should consider distributing electronic devices (laptops or tablets) to students in need of them, and give free sufficient data to all students during this period. This suggestion may assist in implementing online learning whilst waiting for governmental directives.

At this stage, we have universities that are looking for a solution during this unprecedented time but are obstinate that learning should continue at whatever cost. However, universities should very well understand that we cannot allow an online teaching and learning programme that accommodates only a few at the expense of the majority, because, by doing so, we will only be perpetuating privilege.

Universities have to consider suspending the online learning programme, at least until such a time they find and implement solutions that would accommodate all students.

Masai Buthane is the Chairperson of SASCO at the University of Johannesburg (APK). He holds a Bcom Law degree and is currently pursuing his LLB.

Featured image via FreePik.

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