50% of universities cleared to switch to online lectures

EDUCATION|E-LEARNING

Uganda's universities which have switched from traditional to online teaching, with clearance from the National Council for Higher Education has now grown to 25 out of 50.

This means that these universities, after inspections and re-visiting of their programmes, can now teach and assess students online, shifting substantially completely to remote delivery of their courses.  

The state minister for higher education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo says, "Universities, are taking this move, because of the COVID-19 restrictions and will also be expected to maintain the teaching even after this pandemic era. "

Teaching online means that students do not have to get to the universities physically to study, and will rely on web assisted applications to interact with their lecturers, to teaching and assessment.

So if universities are online, will students still attend lectures? So many universities claim that, on average, 70% to 80% of their students are set to start online classes; that the rest will fall in line, with time.

There are other seven higher, but non-degree awarding institutions of learning which have also been cleared to lecture online.

Joseph Baguma, a student at Ndejje university says, "As a student at the Ndejje University, I'm excited about the online studying experience. My lecturers are guiding us through Zoom, email and Google Classrooms. Some of the material can actually be got online. In the past some of us had ignored using the internet to study, but we now know we were missing out."

However, some students are complaining about the lack of laptops and internet to ably attend these online classes.

NCHE position

The executive director of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) Prof. Mary Okwakol says the Government plans to have all universities, private and public, cleared to lecture online.

This means that these universities, after inspections and re-visiting of their programmes, can now teach and assess students online.  

She says that she is aware that some students are still struggling to meet the costs of online education, but she hoped that universities can agree with their students, to work out modalities of ensuring that no one is left behind. Some universities have reduced the tuition fees and some are providing their students with internet; and there are those which are taking both these measures.  

Mwalimu, in an email communication with National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) confirmed the development; and the executive director Prof. Mary Okwakol, noted that more other universities are in the pipeline of being cleared. "We hope more universities will come on board, with time, since many others have applied for clearance."

Several universities have already retooled their lecturers; since it is one of the conditions, to be cleared to lecture online.

Uganda is not the only country is the region with online university education. Almost all countries in the Sub-Saharan region are starting to embrace online education during this COVID-19 era.

List of cleared universities
Before the latest list released last week; the NCHE had a month ago cleared 13 out of the 51 universities, and one tertiary institution; to start online teaching.

Among those cleared by the end of August included Victoria University, International University of East Africa, Law Development Centre, Cavendish University, ISBAT University, Uganda Martyrs University, Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research Institute (ECUREI), and Metropolitan International University. The others are Uganda Christian University, International University of East Africa, African Renewal university, and Lira University.

By the end of July this year, only three universities, including Victoria University, ISBAT University, Cavendish, Makerere's Law Development Centre has been cleared to teach and also assess students online.

This is a turn in the country's university education, following a directive by the First Lady and education minister Mrs. Janet Museveni, to have all universities start online lectures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before then, less than 5% of the country's universities had online courses.  

In her last address to the nation, while commenting about online lectures for universities; Mrs. Museveni noted, "No continuing learner should be left behind or excluded from learning universities start implementing the e-learning approach as a COVID-19 response intervention."

NCHE warns universities
Prof. Okwakol says that there are many more universities, which are in the process of being cleared to teach online. "The COVID-19 era took many of the universities by surprise, a reason we are giving each of them enough time, to have their courses re-accredited for online teaching."
She also warned universities, "We haven't got any report of a university lecturing students online without our clearance. But let this also serve as a warning. Should we get any university doing this, it will mean they are teaching unaccredited academic programmes; and we will surely have them penalized."

A university, according to the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, can have its license revoked or suspended for teaching unaccredited courses. Uganda has in the past closed some universities, for teaching unaccredited courses.

Education ministry concerns
The state minister for higher education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo says the country seems to be going for a new era in education; where all its universities can have online and later after the pandemic; the traditional lecturing.

"There was a silver lining of the pandemic. Modernizing to online teaching, which should be a remarkable good step for the country," he explained.

He warned universities, which do not have re-accredited courses, not to attempt teaching online. "You will be disadvantaging our learners, should they be taught courses which are not accredited. Be warned, but as students, also be vigilant."  
What universities say
Some of the universities have slashed their tuition fees, to be able to keep their students online.
Ndejje University is one of the universities, which has slashed its fees to get students online.

The Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University, Ass. Prof. Krishna N. Sharma says that this is an opportunity for universities in Uganda, to move to an era of technology in teaching. "It will allow us to advance our teaching to another level. We should not lament, but look at the positive side of the entire situation during this COVID-19 time."   

He says that online teaching, "Was not being taken seriously in many developing countries all over the world."

"But this is now a new norm in almost all universities in the world. Much as some students, including ours at this university, have some difficulties coping with learning online. With time this should not be a problem at all. We must start from somewhere, and we, later on, keep improving," he explained.

He says that the university like some of the other universities, is providing free internet access to its students, and some of the universities are also helping students access gadgets like laptops, at a cheaper cost.

He also explained that the university had slashed fees, for online studies.
The Vice-Chancellor of Ndejje University Prof. Eriabu Lugujjo says the university is now set for online education and its courses have been cleared. He explains that they did call in survey of their students last month and found that 80% of their students appreciated the online studies much as they were worried about the issue of having internet bundles to study.

 "We have, however, worked out a modality with telecom companies to give them internet, at no cost. The university will foot their bills," he explained.

He, however, raises concern over practical examinations. "We are still discussing with the National Council for Higher Education, to allow students, especially those going sciences to come for practical work for a short period. But this is a matter which is still under discussion between the NCHE and the respective universities."

He also notes that this is a great move, for the country to start online teaching in all universities. "I know that there will be a bit of challenge, especially with internet and gadgets like laptops to access for some students in the country, but with time, this new way of teaching will grow stronger in the country," Prof. Lugujjo explained.  

Prof. Lugujjo also explained that the university has slashed its tuition since the cost of running the university has also reduced. "It would have been unfair if we maintained the same fees."

Makerere University has now also embraced online education for all its courses; for continuing students and new entrants.  It started with teaching academic staff on online lecturing in May.  

The deputy vice-chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs Ass. Prof. Umar Kakumba, "This is the greatest way of ensuring that learning improves in the university especially during this COVID-19 era."

He also explains that the university has re-activated its digital learning via the university digital learning, Makerere University E-Learning Environment (MUELE). He says, "To access MUELE, each university student and lecturer needs to create an account in this platform. It has been on for decades, but a handful of students and lecturers were using it. Now every lecturer and student will have to use it, to improve digital learning in the university."

Busitema University has also started online lectures; and they are in the process of asking for approval from the Council to reduce tuition for students who will be joining the programme.

Schools/ Varsities switching to online, UNESCO excerpt
While countries are at different points in their COVID-19 infection rates, worldwide there are currently more than 1.2 billion children in 186 countries affected by school closures due to the pandemic. In Denmark, children up to the age of 11 are returning to nurseries and schools after initially closing on 12 March, but in South Korea students are responding to roll calls from their teachers online.

With this sudden shift away from the classroom in many parts of the globe, some are wondering whether the adoption of online learning will continue to persist post-pandemic, and how such a shift would impact the worldwide education market.

Even before COVID-19, there was already high growth and adoption in education technology, with global ed-tech investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019 and the overall market for online education projected to reach $350 Billion by 2025. Whether it is language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning software, there has been a significant surge in usage since COVID-19.

In response to significant demand, many online learning platforms are offering free access to their services, including platforms like BYJU'S, a Bangalore-based educational technology, and online tutoring firm founded in 2011, which is now the world's most highly valued edtech company. Since announcing free live classes on its Think and Learn app, BYJU's has seen a 200% increase in the number of new students using its product, according to Mrinal Mohit, the company's Chief Operating Officer.

Tencent classroom, meanwhile, has been used extensively since mid-February after the Chinese government instructed a quarter of a billion full-time students to resume their studies through online platforms. This resulted in the largest "online movement" in the history of education with approximately 730,000, or 81% of K-12 students, attending classes via the Tencent K-12 Online School in Wuhan.