David Salmon | Keep The University of the West Indies online

SINCE THE announcement by the Government to reopen the entertainment sector, conversation has increased surrounding whether tertiary students, such as those attending The University of the West Indies (UWI), should be allowed to return to face-to-face classes. I categorically believe that maintaining online classes represents the most prudent decision that the UWI administration can make at this time.

The reality is that the full-scale reopening of classes is not feasible, given the complications surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the change in economic situation for many students. There are several advantages to this position for all stakeholders including staff, students and the university itself.

Firstly, in most cases, online classes are more convenient for students as sessions are recorded and can be rewatched after the fact. This option may be limited with the resumption of face-to-face classes. Compounding this challenge is the fact that several students have taken the opportunity to work part-time while going to school.

For example, my colleague, who is a customer service representative, expounded on the numerous benefits of online school. These include being able to listen to class while at work and having the ability to watch recordings as many times as she wants, which makes studying easier.

Most importantly, immense savings are made as she no longer has to spend money to commute from Spanish Town to the UWI. To put it simply, according to another colleague, “Online education represents the best avenue to make an income to repay student loans, while also excel at academics.” These benefits have been echoed across the board by fellow students, regardless of their socio-economic background.

Senator Floyd Morris recently examined the economic realities of students in his brilliant article Entitled, ‘What of the future of tertiary education in Jamaica?’ In his submission, he noted: “At Mona, approximately 3,000 students who were registered in the pre-COVID-19 period have not registered in the academic year 2020-2021.”

Therefore, the economic disruption created by the resumption of face-to-face classes may lead to further students losing sources of income that would otherwise be spent accessing education from the UWI. This is particularly important as many students are employed by the business process outsourcing industry, which requires flexibility in their work schedules.

Any potential loss of job opportunities neither benefits the UWI nor those it aims to serve. Furthermore, historically, Jamaica’s youth unemployment rate has consistently been higher than the national average. For instance, before the pandemic, despite overall unemployment decreasing to under eight per cent in 2019, youth unemployment remained almost three times higher at 21.8 per cent in January 2019. This figure was higher for females, who comprise the overwhelming majority of students at the UWI. The COVID-19 pandemic is unlikely to change these realities.

BEST OPTION

Thus, the future of tertiary education rests on providing the greatest possible benefits to the majority of students, given the dire financial situation that many face. The maintenance of online learning represents the best option to achieving this goal.

Detractors from this stance may argue that Internet connectivity may pose a challenge for some students, and also that the online methodology of teaching is not suitable to different learning styles.

However, the beauty of online learning is that one can always rewatch the sessions in a more convenient setting, and the UWI has presented a plethora of information for students to utilise. To quote UWI’s unofficial motto, “You read for your degree.” Online learning also allows for the university to recruit even more dynamic staff that are not encumbered by the need to be domiciled in Jamaica.

Currently, online education represents the safest option now during the pandemic. As it stands, Jamaica has a vaccination rate of under 10 per cent, which is extremely low in comparison to other countries that have started to reopen their economies. This situation is not expected to improve until 2022. Until that time, the safest option is to keep tertiary education online.

The opposite to this scenario could prove detrimental. Imagine if a regional university such as the UWI has a COVID-19 outbreak during the incoming year as students head back to school. The disruption would be just as disastrous when considering the implications for those who may be returning to the halls of residence. In light of the low vaccination rate, caution must be taken.

It is, however, important to highlight some exceptions. For one, practical courses and labs done by the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Faculty of Medicine should be facilitated as best as possible with face-to-face classes. I can only imagine the unspeakable difficulty of a medical student attempting to do anatomy in an online setting. These courses will inevitably need in-person classes.

Moreover, the UWI should consider reopening more of its halls and the library for students on a needs basis. This will provide an alternative for persons who may have a challenging home situation or those who may find it difficult to do online exams, whether due to limited devices or Internet connectivity.

The UWI should also start the process of digitising its special collections section, as the availability of important information should not be limited to in-person research. Regardless of the final decision, it is important to remember that the road to an outbreak is paved with good intentions. I, along with thousands of students, now anxiously await the position of the UWI Guild of Students and the Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students.

David Salmon is a public policy and management student at The University of the West Indies and a member of Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com, davidsalmon@live.com or Twitter @DavidSalmonJA.