Wits SRC: Online classes will disadvantage too many students
The Student Representative Council (SRC) at Wits University says the academic programme cannot resume until all student issues are addressed.
The university is expected to resume its academic year online on Monday amid the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
In an email to vice-chancellor Adam Habib, the SRC proposed that the academic programme be moved to a later date.
SRC president Thuto Gabapathe says 15% of the students will be disadvantaged by the move to online teaching and learning.
“We have said among other difficulties was the fact that there are other students that are from different communities and you cannot expect students who do not have network to reasonably go online.”
Gabapathe says the promise by the university to provide equipment and data to students does not solve the problem.
“You get students are in households that do not allow e-learning, and we have asked the university what does it say about these students? Because there is no comprehensive plan on how these students would be covered.”
The student body has written a letter to the Department of Higher Education, asking it to intervene.
Listen below: