Varsities wary of full campuses
Concerns over Covid outbreaks
Face-to-face learning and teaching at institutions of higher education is not viable as there are still concerns they may become sites of outbreaks of Covid-19.
This is according to Universities SA, a body representing all universities in SA.
The SA Union of Students has called for students to be allowed back on campus as part of an agreement reached to end student protests last month.
Universities SA CEO Prof Ahmed Bawa said the return to traditional large scale faceto-face teaching will be more an exception than the norm.
Bawa said most universities will bring their students to campus but for students to engage in blended learning.
“The students will use a mixture of technology-based learning and face-to-face learning, which will be small group engagements. There are also deep concerns that our universities may become sites of outbreaks of Covid-19.”
Bawa said to deal with issues of lack of data, connectivity and devices, universities were also committed to bringing students who have difficulty studying to campus so that they have access to campus-based facilities.
A number of universities said they had opted for the blended learning approach where they provide for mostly online learning, but also contact sessions where they are needed.
Senior director of corporate affairs at the Durban University of Technology, Alan Khan, said it was only offering remote teaching and learning.
“Students who have been granted permits are only those who require on-campus practical and laboratory sessions. This will be done in a phased manner. Students registered for these reprioritised sessions have been invited by their faculties or departments and will resume on Monday next week,” Khan said.
University of Pretoria spokesperson Rikus Delport said there were no immediate plans to resume contact classes for all students.
“Two faculties are providing for contact classes under strict Covid-19 protocols and on a rotational basis,” Delport said.
Wits University spokesperson Buhle Zuma said the institution had brought back some cohorts of students who are required to be on campus.
“Large classes are avoided and the majority of the learning and teaching programme continues online. Wits has filled its single-occupancy residences with preference given to first-year students, students required to return by faculties, and students who find it difficult to learn from home.”
North West University said it had also adopted blended learning and teaching.