Concerned UPSA students want management to review its e-learning policy
Some concerned students of the University of Professional Studies, Accra has asked management of the school to review its e-learning policy introduced in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Management of the school, in adherence to the government’s directive on March 16, for educational institutions, introduced an e-learning platform for students.
The platform allows all registered students in the doctoral, masters, undergraduate and diploma programmes to be placed on the learning management system and also take classes at scheduled times.
Management in a notice, to students, said from March 18, students were to start using the learning platform.
After the directive, UPSA migrated all academic activities including Interim Assessments, tests and lecturing onto its e-learning platform. This directive was for only students who had paid their fees in full.
The concerned students, in a statement, however, feel management’s decision is harsh and unfair.
“We must first of all stress that we are not in principle against any decision by UPSA management to ensure that the unfortunate COVID-19 does not affect the academic calendar as long as there is some possibility to do so.
“But, to the extent that any such measures may be detrimental to some students is inconsistent with what has been the practice, it would not only be an unfair but clear indication that management of the university does not even appreciate the psychological effect the said COVID-19 has brought on students,” excerpts of the statement indicated.
The students also mentioned financial constraint as one of the key issues, as only students who had paid their fees in full are allowed to partake in the online class.
“Some students resorted to Loan Trust Fund to pay part of their fees and those who have to wait for money from relatives abroad to pay their fees (Most of those countries have also been affected by COVID-19) while some have to go to the extent of doing informal works in order to put together money for their fees,” the students lamented.
The students are therefore calling on the Education Ministry and other stakeholders to intervene on their behalf to press on management to review its decision.
Read details of the statement below