KENDALL BEHR

The University of Cape Town (UCT), Stellenbosch University and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) are all preparing for contact classes to go online for their second semester, even if the lockdown restrictions are lifted by 16 April. All three universities will be online by the end of April 2020.

University of Cape Town (UCT)

According to the UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Associate Professor Lis Lange, student orientation about how to learn online will start on 20 April, classes will start on the 27^th, and second semester exams will not take place. UCT has rolled out a survey to find out who has access to online learning, as well as assess the students’ living conditions and how that will impact their ability to study. UCT is also providing certain students with laptops for the rest of the year.

University of Stellenbosch (SU)

Stellenbosch University SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers said the second term will commence on 20 April, and they are “trying to ensure that all the students will have access to online learning”. The university is considering the option of holding online June exams due to the rescheduling of the three-week winter recess.

University of Witwatersrand (Wits)

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Wits, Professor Ruksana Osman, let students know on 1 April that online orientation starts on 15 April, and the second semester will open online on 20 April. The students may be able to access their learning classes through their cell phones, laptops, and there is a possibility of lectures being broadcasted for students who don’t have access to online platforms. Wits has also worked with Telkom, Vodacom, and MTN to allow students to access learning sites without using data.

visual: Jonathan Oladeji