‘One student one laptop’: EFF calls on the State to supply resources

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are calling on the Department of Higher Education to provide digital learning devices such as laptops for all students who cannot afford it. 

Now that a nationwide lockdown has been enforced, pupils and students are forced to learn virtually. In order to do that, however, they need the relevant resources, which include laptops and data to access their work on the internet. Without this, the effects on their grades could be detrimental. 

EFF: STATE SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO PURCHASE DIGITAL LEARNING EQUIPMENT

The EFF said it is clear that all previously white university institutions have managed to proceed with their curriculum despite the national lockdown. 

“This is because the majority of these institutions drew from their apartheid attained riches and privilege to forge a pathway for virtual learning under the general conditions imposed by COVID-19,” it said in a statement on Tuesday 12 May. 

“All historically black institutions, on the other hand, have been left behind and on their own. Students and teachers in these institutions have no apartheid wealth or legacy to draw from. In fact, they already existed in permanent states of poverty, under-resourced and generally overcrowded,” it added. 

The EFF said it is the duty of a responsible government to look out for the poor and historically disadvantaged. It further added that the State should not hesitate to purchase laptops and data for all students in historically black universities so that their learning can continue virtually. 

“There is no justification that simply because a black child does not have access to digital learning equipment, they must suffer a lack of higher education,” it said.  

The red party said it is the duty of a responsible government to always make sure that learning is never a privilege but a right equally enjoyed by all. 

“As things stand, the ANC government is at the forefront of dumping a generation of mostly African youth into illiteracy and under-educatedness; from Grade 1 up to universities. Let there be #OneStudentOneLaptop so that virtual learning continues even in historically black institutions,” it added. 

UWC CALLS FOR LAPTOP AND DATA DONATIONS 

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has also appealed to the public, as well as to the business sector, to help fund laptops for students who are rendered unable to engage in remote studying.

The university said that 30% of it’s 24 000 students do not have access to devices such as laptops and cannot afford the high price of data they would require to efficiently study from home during the nationwide lockdown. 

UWC is, therefore, appealing to the business community and the public to ensure that “no student is left behind” by donating laptops and data bundles. 

“We are turning to you – the public, corporates, alumni and businesspeople – for assistance in our time of need. The COVID-19 pandemic remains unpredictable, and the situation locally and abroad remains exceptionally fluid,” it said. 

“We appeal to you to donate funds, laptops or similar devices, as well as data, to ensure that no student will be left behind,” it added.