The leadership of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) has called on the Management of the University to halt the E-learning Platform until challenges concerning the platform are resolved.
According to the SRC it belives that implementation and utilization of the online learning platform are not enough to take full advantage of.
The leadership in statement copied to websaet.com said, a section of the student population of the University stand to be left out on the initiative because of the universitys inability to fully orient all students on the how-to’s of the E-learning Platform.
“There have been no oreintation undertaken by the university to educate and inform the students on the techniques needed to fully operate the Learning platform for academic works” the statement said
It added that some students facing challenges in accessing the system have reported to the SRC that they have no better understanding of the Virtual Learning platform that KTU has deployed.
The SRC in the statement raised concerns that not all students possess the required computer hardware needed for accessing the E-learning Platform.
“A number of students do not own the hardware components (i.e. smartphones, laptop computers, etc) to access the virtual learning system due to the caste of society they may belong to,” it said.
According to the Student’s Representative Council, access to internet services is inconsistent all over the country and it can be a factor holding back some students from participating in the Online teaching and learning process. Also, some students may not have the minimum literacy required to operate the systems that combine to ensure the efficiency of the Virtual Learning Platform
Without including the poor and stressful mental states that the current environment of the country has plunged some students into that may hinder their ability to fully participate in the online teaching and learning procedures, it is evident that the Virtual Learning Platform suggested for academic continuity is not the best action in the interest of uninterrupted learning that was foreseen by the Ministry of Education and NCTE.
Students from other institutions enrolled on their internal E-Learning Platforms are constantly voicing out their negative concerns and frustrations with the System and we believe this is not the right step to take for academic Progress.
“We, therefore, plead with Management to address the apprehensions we have with the rollout of the virtual learning platform with respect to effective tutorials of the online learning platforms especially and finding ways to address the issue of students without the hardware to access the platform.
And also, after the necessary challenges have been addressed, we plead there should be piloting among students before its fully launched. We believe if this is done, accepting the system and fully utilizing it will be easier for students and academic work can proceed with some form of normalcy”. the SRC urged.