COVID-19: As Nigerian varsities’ dither, Cambridge begins online lectures
POLITICS DIGEST-While the Federal Government of Nigeria is yet to outline guidelines on the resumption of schools in the country owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (UK) has already blazed the trail.
The Premier institution, became the first university to set out measures for a full 2020/2021 academic calendar in the UK.
Cambridge announced that it will move all “face-to-face lectures” online in the forthcoming academic session.
The institution added that it will continue to observe all social distancing guidelines on its campuses.
According to a report by the guardian, the university said lectures would continue virtually until summer 2021, while it may be possible for smaller teaching groups to take place as long as they “conform to the social distancing rule”.
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Cambridge spokesman said: “The university is constantly adapting to changing advice as it emerges during this pandemic. Given that it is likely that social distancing will continue to be required, the university has decided there will be no face-to-face lectures during the next academic year.
“Lectures will continue to be made available online and it may be possible to host smaller teaching groups in person, as long as this conforms to social-distancing requirements. This decision has been taken now to facilitate planning, but as ever, will be reviewed should there be changes to official advice on coronavirus.”
All teaching at the university was moved online in March. Exams are being carried out virtually.
It comes after the Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator, urged universities not to promise students that everything will return to normal in the autumn term if this is not the case.
Addressing a virtual education select committee on Monday, Nicola Dandridge, chief executive at the OfS, said students should be told what kind of experience they will receive in advance of accepting offers.
