Kyambogo students protest over lectures on WhatsApp
A student and a boda boda motorcyclist pictured at Kyambogo University main gate. PHOTO/ STEPHEN OTAGE
What you need to know:
- The lecturer in question is also accused of threatening students who had previously complained about his method of working.
A section of Kyambogo University students yesterday demonstrated against one of their lecturers whom they accused of delivering his lectures through WhatsApp as opposed to physical lessons.
The Bachelor of Economic Statistics (BES) students also accuse Kibs Muhanguzi of dictating which student is allowed in his WhatsApp group to take lessons.
“This is BES CLASS 2019 current finalists writing to complain to you about the dictatorship of Dr Muhanguzi Kibs, who holds classes on WhatsApp in the group and he dictates the number of students he wants in the group and deliberately tells students to go to other electives,” a complaint written by the concerned students and addressed to the head of Economics Department reads in part.
When contacted, Muhanguzi denied teaching his students using WhatsApp but said he uses the social media platform to hold further discussions about what he has already taught.
“It is not classes, it is discussions, spatial discussions. Context from the physical class are discussed on the forum,” he said.
“I have different methods of teaching my learners, face-to-face blended with the spatial method of teaching and sometimes I use student-centred learning and lecture-centred-learning depending on the paper I am teaching,” he said.
The lecturer in question is also accused of threatening students who had previously complained about his method of working.
“I pray that you disobey one order, this is management, try laissez-faire and get fire,” the lecturer is quoted as saying in one of the WhatsApp groups.
It’s also claimed that another student had two of his examination marks deducted for not following the forum rules.
Mr Muhanguzi confirmed that he punishes those who do not obey his rules.
“Each class has rules and regulations. Breaking them is punishable,” he said.
He added that most students break rules by posting non-essential items in the forum meant for educational purposes.
“You post non-essential issues like leisure in the forum for academics you are penalised for that,’’ he said
When asked if he had conducted any physical lectures so far, Mr Muhanguzi said the Bachelor of Economics Statistics class has issues that will be sorted out on Saturday.
When contacted, Mr James Mugisha, the dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, said they had a fruitful conversation with the student leadership and that their matters have since been resolved.
