Telecommunications boost for students
Universities are gradually adapting to online lectures and some forging groundbreaking partnerships with telecommunications companies to enhance their offerings.
The University of Pretoria (UP) and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University started with their virtual lectures three weeks ago.
However, students at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will have to wait until next month. The university said it was finalising its student biographical survey to determine the rollout of multi-modal remote learning programmes.
Vice-chancellor Lourens van Staden said they have 65 000 students across the country, 90% of them from deep rural areas. He said implementing an emergency remote learning strategy for them required more time.
“What the university has planned is that the bulk of students will receive printed learning materials to the door and others who have indicated that they prefer online learning will do so. These learning programmes will start on June 1,” Van Staden said.
He said the university was at an advanced stage of providing students with laptops for online learning.
He dispelled rumours that the university was considering cancelling the 2020 exams. He said they were instead considering a new academic calendar and exams would be written at a later stage, most possibly next year.
By continuing the academic programme in June, Van Staden said, would give them an opportunity to complete 27 weeks of teaching and learning before final exams are written.
Read the full story on: IOL.