Uganda’s Education Minister Janet Museveni approves online learning for universities
Education Minister, Janet Kataaha Museveni has given universities in the country a go-ahead to embrace online learning programmes.
Following the ongoing coronavirus, the government ordered the closure of schools and institutions of learning indefinitely as a way to curb the spread of the virus.
Since then many school and university activities have been hit including syllabus coverage with students more so those in the candidate classes and the finalists unsure about the next course of action.
However, in the wake of events, the education minister has allowed universities to conduct these online classes provided every single student benefits and non is left out.
Earlier, Ms Janet had put to hold the e-learning programmes stating that not everyone is in a position to afford and access the service.
She explained that although many Ugandans are in a position to embrace this online learning, some might find it hard to access and apply it and yet they paid tuition while at the university to study.
She advises that only universities that feel each of their students can benefit from the e-learning programme should be the ones to embrace it.
“Allow me to observe that one of the critical requirements in these guidelines for e-learning is that no continuing learner should be left behind or excluded from learning when a learning institution starts implementing the e-learning approach,” Janet stressed.
She further added that other proper guidelines will be provided to schools and institutions of learning by the executive director of the National Council for Higher Education.
Meanwhile, this comes at a time when the government is planning to commence supplying radios in villages and other hard to reach areas to be used by children to access digital learning.
During his recent address to the nation, President Museveni said that they are going to give out a radio set to every household, two television sets for every village and self-study materials to help out children access formal education even when schools are still closed.
In recent weeks, many schools have switched teaching to the radios and televisions stations as a way of keeping their children occupied in this lockdown period.
The Ministry of Education says that they are working tirelessly to develop homeschooling study materials for both primary and secondary levels and have them delivered to all students countrywide.
Minister Janet Museveni says that they will provide printed learning materials for all subjects and all learners as well as broadcasting lectures on radios and television stations.
“We are in advanced stages of developing home-schooling study materials for the entire primary and secondary education levels.
“We will provide printed learning materials for all subjects and all learners. In addition to that, all lessons in the printed materials form shall also be broadcasted through the radio and TV stations,” the education minister stated.
