Members of Parliament from the Education, Science and Technology Committee Present
Ministry of Education (MoE) Representative
Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) Representative
Higher Education Authority (HEA) Representative
Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) Representative
Technical Education, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) Representative
Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) Representative
Dean of Students Present
Student Union Leaders from various Universities and Colleges Present
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Present
ZANEC Members, Board and Staff Present
Members of the Press
May I simply say all Protocols observed
It is my honour and privilege to welcome you all our distinguished guests to this engagement meeting on Academic Freedom Best Practices -Learning Through Virtual Platforms.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The continued evolution of education towards virtual platforms presents both opportunities and challenges. In the context of academic freedom, it is imperative to address these shifts to ensure that all students can access, engage with, and benefit from digital learning in higher and tertiary education. It is important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic helped accelerate the adoption of virtual learning as well as revealing disparities in access and resources. In Zambia, a considerable number of students are marginalized due to limitations in accessing online platforms, often resulting from financial constraints and a lack of necessary devices or reliable connectivity.
According to the study that was conducted by ZANEC in 2022 titled “Assessment of the Status of Education Technology and Digital Literacy Levels Among Teachers, Parents and Learners in Zambia” the learners were disproportionately affected in terms of access to technology, digital device, availability internet connectivity, geographic isolation, and the high cost of internet bundles. As a result, the educational experience of these students is compromised, leading to inequalities in their pursuit of knowledge and future opportunities.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Therefore, this initiative seeks to find solutions to these issues in order to create a conducive learning environment for all students, regardless of their circumstances when it comes to access to online learning.
ZANEC hopes that the platform created by this engagement meeting will facilitate the sharing of experiences, best practices, and innovative solutions among participants.
The overall objective of this meeting is to engage key stakeholders on how learning through virtual platforms can enhance academic freedom best practices for all students regardless of their social, economic, cultural, and gender differences.
Ladies and Gentlemen
ZANEC is grateful to Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) for the financial support which has made it possible to hold this advocacy follow-up initiative today. The coalition has held a number of advocacy activities to promote a conducive learning environment for students in higher learning institutions by collaborating and partnering with YETT on a project called the Student Academic Freedom Regional Advocacy Program (SAFRAP).
I wish all of us present here a fruitful deliberation that will provide solutions to effective and efficient eLearning and academic freedom in our tertiary institutions.
Thank you and God bless you all.
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