Zimbabwe National Students Union Challenge E-Learning
Zimbabwe National Students Union ZINASU has challenged the government’s decision to introduce e-learning to university students who are not in their final year by filing an urgent chamber application at the High court after students at Midlands State University (MSU) complained that virtual learning was not feasible, The Herald reports.
ZINASU is represented by Harare lawyer Mr Denford Halimani of Wintertons Legal Practitioners and cited MSU and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Amon Murwira as first and second respondents
Part of the court papers submitted on behalf of ZINASU reads:
This is because many students come from rural areas where there is poor or no cellular coverage or network to enable them to access e-learning. Many students also come from underprivileged backgrounds and are unable to afford the increased cost of data to enable them to access e-learning material.
Many of the students reside in areas where there is no electricity supply at all to enable them to charge their cellphones and laptops (for those with such gadgets).
This is grossly unfair to the affected students and clearly the students right to education has been violated and continues to be violated as long as this is not stopped,
Alternatively, ZINASU has proposed that should the court uphold e-learning, MSU must open the e-learning platforms to its students irrespective of payment of fees.
