E-learning in Zambia – How Practical?…asks Texila American University (TAU) Deputy Vice Chancellor Vijay Kumar Rajaranthinam 

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E-learning in Zambia – How Practical?…asks Texila American University (TAU) Deputy Vice Chancellor Vijay Kumar Rajaranthinam

Lusaka, Wednesday 8th July, 2020 –

Texila AMERICAN University has commended Zamtel for making access to internet services free for its students.

Speaking in Lusaka today (Wednesday 8th July 2020), TAU Deputy Vice Chancellor Vijay Kumar Rajaranthinam has commended Zamtel for making internet free for TAU students to facilitate electronic learning and to ease their economic burden on data bundles.

Dr. Vijay has further implored other mobile service providers to emulate the gesture.

He said as much as e-learning is affordable for some, many students, especially those in rural areas are struggling to connect with their teachers and classmates because of the high cost of internet bundles.

Dr. Vijay says learning institutions should take initiative in making e-learning easier for their students.

“Texila American University started its online classes on the Wednesday 25th of March 2020.

The online classes are live video lectures and each day the lectures are about four hours long.

Apart from the live lectures, TAU also conducts live practical demonstrations using TAU’s versatile Learning Management System (LMS).

To facilitate students’ easy access to the online classes and to ease their economic burden on data bundles, TAU approached ZAMTEL to provide zero cost data bundles for students to access their LMS and continue their online studies.

ZAMTEL, true to its spirit of connecting the nation, provided zero cost data bundles for TAU students to access TAU’s LMS. 

ZAMTEL’s gesture towards the students community has been greatly applauded,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has called on mobile service providers to reduce prices of internet bundles if e-learning is to be realized in Zambia.

NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa says cost of internet connectivity is too high for many students and teachers, especially those in rural areas.

Mr. Chansa said aside cost of internet connection, the electronic landscape in Zambia is low.

Mr. Chansa commended government efforts in providing learning programs through radio and television.

He however said that according to Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), only thirty eight percent of Zambia’s population has access to television and only forty percent has radio access.

He says that means that more than sixty percent of Zambians do not have access to television or radio learning.

He has therefore called on government to invest in more towers for television and mobile service.

He further called on government and other organizations to come to the aid of teachers and learners by providing radios, televisions or smart phones and other smart devices to ensure continuity of learning.

National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) is a non-governmental organization which was formed in 2014 by Zambians from different persuasions for the purpose of helping government to improve the poor standards of education in the country.
-ENDS-
Issued by;
Choolwe Lawrence Mweemba,
Public Relations Officer,
Tel: +260965135213
Email: pro@tau.edu.zm