UNAM’s 12 doors ceremoniously opened
Official opening of university doors for the commencement of face-to-face learning.
Following a two-year long global pandemic and the pressures it exerted upon the education sector, the University of Namibia (Unam) officially joined other institutions worldwide in the commencement of face-to-face learning for all full-time and part-time students. The university, with 12 campuses nationwide, has been alternating between the methods of teaching in accordance to government’s regulations and officiated the move from online teaching to full-on face-to-face coupled with hybrid engagements on Wednesday, 9 March, at the official opening ceremony that took place at the Hage Geingob campus in Khomasdal.
‘’We have worked online and it has been a problem. We have done assessments online and we now know how to deal with this most feared animal which is ‘online’. My plea with you is that we should continue to embrace technology now that we are slowly moving to normality because the future of education is for those who prepare for it,” said pro-vice chancellor of academic affairs, Professor Frednard Gideon.
Furthermore, the university has ensured that the safety of its students and staff be a priority amidst the ongoing global pandemic through the handing of over 10 000 bars of soap, sanitisers and masks from the vice chancellor professor Dr Kenneth Matengu to the director of student affairs for use by the students. “We have made various provisions in addition to the governmental regulations. Our hostels will only be filled to 80% capacity to ensure that each student has more personal space and the risk of contracting the virus is reduced. For instance, rooms that would normally house four students will only house two,” explained Unam public relations officer John Haufiku.
He further clarified the formerly trending misconception about mandatory vaccination policies being enforced on hostel boarders, saying the matter was an internal conflict that had been resolved and that the university hopes to encourage a vaccination culture but will not forcefully compel students to get vaccinated.
“We will make it [vaccines] as accessible as possible to the students through on-campus clinics and equipped staff where possible, but we will not compel them,” he added.
The university’s vaccination centre has aided in the vaccination of over 3 000 people thus far.
‘’We have worked online and it has been a problem. We have done assessments online and we now know how to deal with this most feared animal which is ‘online’. My plea with you is that we should continue to embrace technology now that we are slowly moving to normality because the future of education is for those who prepare for it,” said pro-vice chancellor of academic affairs, Professor Frednard Gideon.
Furthermore, the university has ensured that the safety of its students and staff be a priority amidst the ongoing global pandemic through the handing of over 10 000 bars of soap, sanitisers and masks from the vice chancellor professor Dr Kenneth Matengu to the director of student affairs for use by the students. “We have made various provisions in addition to the governmental regulations. Our hostels will only be filled to 80% capacity to ensure that each student has more personal space and the risk of contracting the virus is reduced. For instance, rooms that would normally house four students will only house two,” explained Unam public relations officer John Haufiku.
He further clarified the formerly trending misconception about mandatory vaccination policies being enforced on hostel boarders, saying the matter was an internal conflict that had been resolved and that the university hopes to encourage a vaccination culture but will not forcefully compel students to get vaccinated.
“We will make it [vaccines] as accessible as possible to the students through on-campus clinics and equipped staff where possible, but we will not compel them,” he added.
The university’s vaccination centre has aided in the vaccination of over 3 000 people thus far.
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