This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, universities have had to adapt to a new reality: online learning. While some students have welcomed the shift, others are struggling to adjust.
For Judy Wanjiru, a second-year journalism student at the Technical University of Kenya, online classes have been a disappointment. 'I haven't learnt anything since we started these online classes,' she says. 'And I'm not blaming it on the obvious problems of poor internet, power failures, lack of data bundles or smartphones.'
Wanjiru's views are echoed by Arnold Mwangangi, a third-year student at the University of Nairobi. 'Many times, I just log in so the lecturer can see I'm present in class but in reality, I'm busy doing my own stuff on the net or watching a movie,' he says.
However, not all students are unhappy with online learning. Triza Mungai, a student at Daystar University, says that while it took her two months to adjust to the new schedule, she now appreciates the flexibility it offers. 'Losing an academic year or a semester is painful to a student,' she says. 'Studying online gives a student room to concentrate more on education without putting on hold their other aspects of life.'
Washington Mito, also a student at Daystar, agrees that online learning has its benefits. 'It also presented me with an opportunity to have WiFi installed in our house despite the cost which my parents had previously deemed too heavy and unnecessary,' he says.
Despite the challenges, many students believe that online learning is the future. 'With the internet, chances are high you will learn something new you wouldn't have in a traditional physical class,' says Mito. 'Students will be leaving class as tech-savvy persons.'
However, not all students are convinced. Charles Njoroge, who is pursuing a Master's in Science Statistics at the Murang'a University, says that online learning has reduced interaction between students and lecturers. 'Concentration is a major challenge because there is no supervision or the atmosphere might not be conducive for learning,' he says.
Despite the mixed feelings, one thing is clear: online learning is here to stay. As universities continue to adapt to the new reality, students will have to find ways to make the most of it.
