Students at Stellenbosch University (SU) have welcomed the university’s decision to provide students with 30GB of free data to make online classes accessible to all during the national lockdown, but concerns remained that the data might not be enough. Students have also questioned the university’s decision to only provide this data a week after online classes began.
“When contact classes were further suspended, I realised that [a] lack of internet would pose a huge problem. I tutor two classes and knew some students wouldn’t have access to the internet at all,” said Safaraaz Ganie, an LLM student at SU.
The data provision allayed fears that some students would be excluded from online learning, said Ganie.
On 24 April, students were informed via email and SMS that 10GB daytime and 20GB nighttime data will be provided to them for the purpose of online learning. This was in addition to the SU’s online learning platform, SUNLearn, being zero-rated.
Official Stellenbosch University (SU) communication detailing that students are to opt-in to receive free data for online learning.
SU students had to opt-in to receive the data by completing an online form. According to this form, the data ought to reflect as soon as possible, with the latest possible day being Thursday 30 April.
According to Ganie, this was problematic with online classes having already started a week earlier, on 20 April, and academic deadlines already in place.
SU collaborated with data providers such as CellC, MTN, Telkom and Vodacom to alleviate additional expenses incurred by SU students due to the suspension of physical classes during the national lockdown.
SU student, Safaraaz Ganie shares his opinion on why he thinks the allocated data is not sufficient for SU students. AUDIO: Safaraaz Ganie
Student frustrations rise
Students have conflicting views regarding the delay in free data provision, despite online classes having already commenced.
“Other institutions didn’t start with classes before giving [out] data to students. They are only making means [available] to provide us with data now,” said Siyamanga Zweni, a SU student waiting for the allocated data to reflect.
According to official communication from Wits University, it provided its students with 30GB data on 19 April, prior to the commencement of online learning. Two days later UCT followed suit by giving each student 20GB (with 20GB night time) data, additional to their predominant learning platform, Vula, becoming zero-rated, also according to official communication.
Both these universities started online classes the same day as SU.
According to Safaraaz Ganie, SU student, the fact that the provided free data expires after a month is problematic. AUDIO: Safaraaz Ganie
Admirable efforts so far
Some SU students have commended SU for providing students with data.
Ganie said he was proud that SU was doing something to lessen the effects of students not having access to Maties wifi.
“The response from management is commendable. When the time comes we will critique them, however, at the moment they have shown exceptional leadership,” said Motsoari Nthunya, SU student and South African Students Congress (SASCO) chairperson.
This data will allow all students to participate in online learning, regardless of their financial position, said Nthunya.
The chairperson of the Academic Affairs Council at SU, Xola Njengele, questioned whether the data would be sufficient for students to continue with online learning.
“It’s a great initiative, however, my only concern is the duration of how [long] the data will last,” said Njengele.
According to Martin Viljoen, SU’s spokesperson, if students follow the data management strategies as stipulated on the SU websites, the various mobile network operators’ offers should suffice for access to learning material.
Currently, unused data could not be transferred and is not managed or regulated by SU, said SU’s Viljoen. Should this option be made available by mobile network operators, SU will consider taking up the available offerings, he said.
SU was unable to comment regarding whether the data provision will be on a once-off or recurring basis until contact classes resume.
By Daniele-B Smith and Masego Mafata