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 opposed to online learning. Triza Mungai, a student at Daystar University, says she has adjusted to the new reality. 'It took me two months to fully adjust to a new schedule, which I now say has given me a great experience,' she says. 'But I still face challenges like poor internet signals and power blackouts.'
Washington Mito, also a student at Daystar, believes that online learning has its advantages. 'It has stretched my thinking to be at par with what I would have expected to learn while in a physical class,' he says. 'And it has also presented me with an opportunity to have WiFi installed in our house.'
Despite the challenges, many students agree 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, some students are concerned about the lack of practical sessions and the 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,' says Charles Njoroge, a student at Murang'a University.
As universities continue to navigate the challenges of online learning, one thing is clear: the pandemic has forced them to adapt to a new reality. And while some students are struggling to adjust, others are embracing the opportunities that online learning presents.
