Even though a significant number of laptops for National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) beneficiary students are yet to be delivered, learning at universities will take place online.
Higher education, science and innovation minister Dr Blade Nzimande announced yesterday that learning at universities “will shift exclusively to online learning for all students”.
Nzimande was briefing the media on plans for the post-school education and training institutions in the wake of the surge in COVID-19 infections.
Under adjusted level four lockdown regulations, president Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced that contact classes in the country’s tertiary institutions will end on 30 June, with limited access to the institutions.
For universities, the higher education minister yesterday stated that all face-to-face teaching and examinations remain halted for the next two-week period. “Residences will remain open, as it is also not safe for students to travel back home at this time and it is necessary for students to retain access to campus and residence-based WiFi.”
On technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, Nzimande said until all colleges are officially closed this week and upon re-opening after the lockdown period, all social distance, health and safety protocols will be strictly adhered to at all campuses, including residences.
Colleges will initiate hybrid (remote) teaching and learning approaches as was done in 2020, he said, adding that further details of this and amended opening dates will be communicated by colleges in due course.
“The Department of Higher Education and Training, together with the South African Public Colleges Organisation, is in the process of finalising negotiations with the relevant mobile network operators for zero-rated data for both students and staff. Colleges will be making alternative plans to ensure students receive their learning content whilst the issue of data is being addressed.
“The TVET college examinations calendar will be adjusted to ensure students are adequately prepared for examinations and assessments, and are not disadvantaged in any way. I must indicate that flexibility exists in our TVET examinations calendar to allow for any reasonable amendment.”
As part of the COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts, government last year promised to procure laptops for all NSFAS qualifying students in universities and TVET colleges.
However, the process to supply students with electronic devices to aid their studies has been bogged down by controversies, ranging from tender irregularities and some in the electronics manufacturing sector objecting to the awarding of the laptops tender to the selected five suppliers.
After much delay, NSFAS opened its online portal in April, calling on funded students to place their orders to receive their much-awaited laptops.
Nzimande stated that NSFAS has, to date, ordered 170 000 laptops from the appointed service providers. Of these, 90 060 arrived in the country and are ready for distribution,
“The balance will be arriving in the country in the middle of July and middle of September this year.”
According to Nzimande, university student information, as per the NSFAS portal, has been slow due to universities not timeously verifying student details on the NSFAS portal.
“A total of 1 846 students’ information has been shared with the providers, of which 1 123 [laptops] have been delivered to four universities, namely the University of Pretoria, University of the Free State, Durban University of Technology and University of Mpumalanga.
“I call upon our universities to contact NSFAS through the NSFAS portal to ensure they verify their students’ information. It is important that universities must prioritise this task urgently.”
Turning to TVET students, the minister pointed out they do not order via the NSFAS portal. However, NSFAS will prioritise the TVET students for delivery of laptops, he indicated.
“A total TVET listing of 46 846 has recently been shared with the providers for delivery. The provider will contact the students to arrange for delivery as campuses are currently closed. Of the 46 846, a total of 183 has been delivered to South Cape TVET College and 86 for Central Johannesburg TVET.”
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