Management of Makerere University has finally reopened the institution to physical classes, after maintenance of online classes since the reopening of schools in January.
Regardless of the administration’s decision, some students protested, demanding physical lectures for all learners since schools had received a green light.
The management made this decision after they realized that cases of Covid-19 in the country had reduced, as revealed by the Makerere Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe. He further revealed that these would resume on Saturday, except for graduate students who prefer blended learning.
“The semester plan remains the same. But the university is opening fully for face to face classes. However, blended teaching and learning will continue for those who prefer it, especially graduate classes, which are ordinarily in the evenings,” the Vice Chancellor said.
Makerere was the only university in the country that had maintained online teaching after the government cleared all learning institutions to reopen.
The guild president, Ms Shamim Nabbasa, who led a students’ demonstration against online classes last month, commended the university administration for physically reopening the university to all learners.
“The wait is finally over. This Saturday, the university shall officially open its gates physically for all students. No student will be forced to leave the halls of residence for others to occupy as it has been. All halls will be fully opened for all the students, ”Ms Nabbasa said.
“This is in fulfilment of our conditions to the administration for calling off the industrial action,” the guild president added.
Background
Under the leadership of their guild president Shamim Nabbasa, Makerere students staged a demonstration on February 7, protesting against online classes, citing exorbitant data charges and lack of enough ICT equipment.
This culminated into the suspension of 12 students for disrupting the university and teaching. In the same incident, a third year student, Mr Richard Ssebuganda, lost fingers to a teargas canister during the demonstration.
The university management on February 10 called for a meeting with the students’ guild leaders and agreed to lift the suspension of the 12 students, among other pledges. The university management also promised the student leaders that it would create a roadmap for physical reopening of the institution.
The student leaders were in return asked to call off the demonstration and mobilise their colleagues for mass vaccination as one of the ways to minimise the spread of Covid-19.