12 students have been suspended from Makerere University for engaging in a strike.
On Monday morning, students went on strike to oppose the university’s decision to continue with online learning even after the country was fully reopened last month.
The MUK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe stated in the press release that the university is not obliged to resume full face-to-face learning in classes as e-learning has proved to be effective.
Nawangwe noted that the University Management has received several inquiries from students and other stakeholders regarding the decision to proceed with the blended model of teaching and learning, despite the full reopening of the economy.
“Firstly, it should be noted that the decision to continue with the blended model of teaching and learning was taken before the full reopening of the economy. Therefore, all arrangements for the first semester and subsequent approvals by Senate and Council were made against this background,” Nawangwe noted.
He added that the country is experiencing a surge in infections by the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and yet not all students and members of staff have been vaccinated.
He explained that the University considers the health and safety of students and staff as priority number one and there is nothing more valuable than life.
He further said that they are working out a roadmap for the possible full opening of the University for face-to-face teaching and learning in the shortest possible time, hopefully by the second semester.
“In order to achieve this, we have made arrangements to vaccinate all students against COVID-19. Currently, only 20% of the students are vaccinated. In the meantime, we will continue with blended learning. I, therefore, encourage all students to strongly desist all attempts to disrupt University activities, under the pretext of demanding the full reopening of the University,” he said.
