EFFSC supports inclusive online learning, leaders say

The Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command (EFFSC) Potchefstroom is not against online learning, said treasurer Tshidiso Taedi, in reaction to an allegation on social media that the EFFSC did not support the continuation of studies in an online environment at NWU. 

Taedi said, “propaganda that has been circulating on Facebook that we oppose e-learning is factually untrue”.

A post was added to the Potch Confessions – Pikka Facebook page, claiming that Boitumelo Phadi, deputy secretary of the EFFSC, was trying to challenge the university’s online learning initiative.

The Facebook post has since been deleted. Efforts to get comment from Potch Confessions – Pikka were futile, and the post was removed shortly after threestreasmmedia contacted the page administrator.

The EFFSC said they are advocating for inclusive ways of dealing with online teaching and learning. The EFFSC would have rejected the initiative only if the university did not show a willingness to help disadvantaged students, “We live in a society ridden with inequalities and poverty, which alludes to classism,” Taedi said in a WhatsApp interview.

Taedi acknowledged that there are students who do not have the gadgets that will enable them to complete class activities and assignments. He said if the university will not help such students during this difficult time, then those students will be denied a quality and well-resourced education.

Boitumelo Phadi, deputy secretary, shared the same view, indicating that the EFFSC will challenge the proposed method of online teaching and learning only if it were not inclusive of the entire student population.

“We are faced with the reality that not all students have access to electronic resources such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. Some students live in remote areas. They do not have access to strong network connectivity or electricity. In this regard, we will continue engaging the NWU management to ensure that no student gets left out during this transition,” Phadi said.

Phadi said this is the time for NWU Potchefstroom Campus students to come together and bring solutions to the table on how the academic year can be saved and to ensure that teaching and learning continues in a conducive manner for everyone. “This is not the time to be pointing fingers at each other. We need each other now more than ever,” Phadi said.

NWU announced on its Keep on Teaching and Learning page on Friday that data-free access will be provided by all major mobile networks in South Africa to the eFundi page and resources hosted directly on eFundi, but links outside eFundi will not be free.

However, in WhatsApp interviews with some students from the three campuses of North-West University, they were still worried that data will be a challenge during online learning.

Paseka Mothobi (22), a second-year mechanical engineering student in Potchefstroom, said online learning is going to be a very big challenge for students who come from rural areas because of network coverage issues. Paseka said online learning is going to be more difficult, as some students don’t have computers and only rely on their mobile phones. “Imagine trying to do programming on a mobile phone. It is a big challenge and it is impossible,” he said.

Karabelo Teronko (28), a third-year communication student on the Vaal campus, said the biggest challenge is getting data, as she has no extra income. Teronko indicated that the network connection is also a challenge. “Sometimes the network is so slow and the little data we may have, end up being finished before doing anything productive while searching for a network,” she said.

Makhethe Motsoanyane (24), a third-year animal health student in Mafikeng, said online learning is going to affect a lot of students, especially those without bursaries, as those who have bursaries can always tap into their savings to buy data. 

According to the NWU official website, the vice-chancellor, Prof. Dan Kgwadi, said an orientation period for online learning kicked off this week for students and staff to familiarise themselves with the remote teaching and learning programme. Online teaching will commence formally on 22 April.

In a cominique provided to threestreamsmedia by Louis Jacobs, director of NWU corporate communication, Prof. Kgwadi said the NWU is aware that many students are struggling with data and connectivity, as well as access to devices, and that the matter is constantly being addressed, not only by the university, but also by the higher education sector in conjunction with the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology. 

He said the NWU has already been successful with negotiations with some telecommunication companies regarding zero-rating of certain university subsites and portals. “We will continue negotiations with the four major suppliers (MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C) to ensure full zero rating for all relevant NWU subsites,” Kgwadi said.