Universities must be considerate

THERE are suggestions, from both Government and higher and tertiary academic institutions, to conduct lectures online.

It seems Government through the responsible Honourable Minister is talking more on the issue.

However, allow me to speak from the terraces, not in office, where other students remain seated and face the realities.

Never mind the rhetoric of “putting in place the right framework to allow e-learning through affordable internet connection”, but let us think of the hassle of just getting online.

People in employment are failing to afford data, what more students.

I will not hide the fact that online classes are a non-starter.

Besides, the structure of conventional university studies provides for face-to-face lectures, presentation seminars, student attendance hours, group assignments, field visits and in-class exercises.

How will this be possible online? We should not turn our studies to some form of distant learning. There are issues of academic standards at play.

As a nation, we should learn to understand that whenever there are priorities, we all put our hands on the deck.

The priority and focus is on the nation’s health and not on education.

We were glad to hear that some learning institutions are making health protective sundries. Ko izvi zvekuti vana ngavaiite online-classes zvazvipi futi?

I am solidly behind those responsible for our academic institutions and confident they are the best people for the job.

Let us all join in the fight against Covid19.

Images of mass graves in Brazil, Italy and United States that we are seeing on global media outlets are real.

To people like me, they are traumatising and I know we are not safe.

The low numbers of Covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe must not fool us.

We need to be extra careful and give priority to health interventions.

No to online classes. Yes to Covid-19 fight.