Makerere University has come out to suspend 12 students who took part in a strike yesterday Monday 7th February 2022 at the school campus.
This followed protests from students who oppose the University’s idea of continuing with e-learning.
The students want physical learning resumed since the economy was fully reopened.
However, according to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the University is not mandated to resume physical classes since online learning has also proved to be effective.
He went ahead to say that the University that the University has received numerous enquiries from different stakeholders as well as students in regards to his blended model of teaching.
“Firstly, it should be noted that the decision to continue with the blended model of teaching and learning was taken before the full reopening of the economy. Therefore, all arrangements for the first semester and subsequent approvals by Senate and Council were made against this background,” Nawangwe said.
Nawangwe further said that the country is currently facing a spike in the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is so yet many students and staff are yet to be vaccinated.
He however didn’t rule out the full reopening of the University including the physical classes.
The VC said that they are trying to design a program that will see the University open fully and hopefully this will be achieved im the second semester.
“In order to achieve this, we have made arrangements to vaccinate all students against COVID-19. Currently, only 20% of the students are vaccinated. In the meantime, we will continue with blended learning. I, therefore, encourage all students to strongly desist all attempts to disrupt University activities, under the pretext of demanding the full reopening of the University,” he added.
The University campus was full of students and police running around the different corners of the campus yesterday.
A number of students were arrested during the scuffles.
The learners accuse the University authorities of trying to take advantage of the situation to extort them.
Nawangwe went ahead to criticize the guild president, Shamim Nambasa’s leadership for leading this unrest.
“This morning, a group of around 20 students disrupted classes and engaged in other acts of hooliganism. I have suspended twelve (12) of those students who were identified and I will suspend all the others once they are identified. I wish to once again re-assure all our stakeholders that the University Management will continue to enforce disciplinary measures against some students who engage in this unacceptable behavior.” the VC further said.
