By Stuart Bogere
The 2016 general elections former Presidential Candidate, Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye has warned the government on open and distance e-learning due to serious challenges of ICT access.
According to Dr. Besigye, Uganda is still facing a lot of challenges in regard to the use of ICT which should have been addressed long time ago by the current regime.
He adds that if the government adopts this decision it will greatly and strategically endanger the future of our children.
Besigye notes that “Government has not figured out how students in Uganda can resume their education, 10 months after lockdown
“The open and distance e-learning can’t work in Uganda due to serious challenges of ICT access.” cautions Besigye
His remarks comes few days after the government advised schools to wait for another three months before they could open to allow students back due to Covid-19.
Institutions of higher learning were advised to proceed with online classes until a decision is made by President Museveni to re-open schools.
In September last year, the National Council for Higher Education released guidelines for e-learning in institutions of higher learning across the country to commence remote teaching and learning activities during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown.
Meanwhile, Honorable Judith Nabakooba the Minister of Information Commuinication, Technology and National Guidance, while addressing the weekly presser on Sunday said that Cabinet will be sitting today Monday at the State House and it will receive a full report on the state of preparedness for learners from the ministry of education.
Nabakooba noted that after the the report, parents and learners will have to wait for guidance from the Ministry of Health and President Museveni on the way forward.
“Whereas reopening of schools for all learners to allow physical interactions is still on hold, we have come to learn that some schools are secretly violating this guidance and allowing students/ pupils of other classes to attend school physically,”she said
