Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Namibia University of Science and Technology has revised its calendar, which will see an extension of the academic year to March next year.
The disruption caused by Covid-19 resulted in the national lockdown and the subsequent closure of the campus with the institution resorting to online learning and teaching methodologies in order to save the 2020 academic year.
However, not all students could switch to the online mode of study due to a lack of internet-enabled devices.
According to a memo from the acting vice chancellor Andrew Niikondo, the university is adamant in its effort to ensure equity in the access to education for all its students and therefore classified the students in different categories to accommodate their various needs.
Niikondo further explained that some of the needs are such as senior students who are expected to graduate in November 2020, students who could not cope with Remote Teaching, Learning and Assessment (RTLA) due to lack of gadgets and internet connectivity as well as students studying towards masters and PhD qualifications.
These different student categories and the national health and safety guidelines prescribed during each stage of the lockdown resulted in a phased approach for the return of students to campus.
“ A further impact on the timelines and academic calendar is the university’s commitment to ensure quality service is delivered to students because lectures cannot teach the different categories of students concurrently while the RTLA also continues in addition to the phased return of students to campus,” said Niikondo.
The group of students in the category of no access to data and devices will return to campus on the 3 August to start with their face-to-face classes for eight weeks after the lectures concluded RTLA.
According to the memo, this category of students will continue from where the teaching and learning stopped before the lockdown.
“They will conclude their first semester on 2 October 2020 and start together with the rest of the student cohort on 12 October 2020 with the second semester registration.”
The October graduation ceremony is rescheduled to take place on 26 and 27 November 2020, while the registration for the new intake of students is therefore scheduled to March 2021.
“The plan is to again catch up during 2021 and revert to normal to conclude the 2021 academic year as usual during December 2021,” Niikondo said.