Universities suspend contact classes for two weeks

In a move to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Tunisia’s universities are to suspend contact classes and use only online education for a period of two weeks, starting from 2 November. The Tunisian Universities Council decided in August that a hybrid model with strict preventative health measures would be used from September.

With the new measures, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has suspended in-person education but provided for the continuation of work in all universities, higher education institutions, dormitories and university restaurants as well as the continuation of elections of decision-making bodies at all higher education institutions.

The measures also allow students who cannot access study material and lessons remotely to use university facilities such as computers.

As of 30 October, Tunisia had recorded 58,029 infections, including 1,253 deaths, according to Corona Tracker.

Safety and health first

“This decision had already been prepared in advance as part of a strategy for developing a responsive governance and management system for higher education institutions to navigate the short-, medium- and long-term impact of the pandemic crisis, taking into account the lessons of the first wave of COVID-19,” said Béchir Allouch, professor of technology at the Virtual University of Tunis and the president of the Tunisian Association for E-Learning.

“A regulatory text has already been published by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research which allows institutions to switch to distance learning, with a focus on blended learning, if necessary,” Allouch said. “The circular gives decision-making bodies at universities the possibility of adapting measures on a case-by-case basis,” he added.

According to Allouch, students will continue to use university facilities such as computers. University hostels and restaurants will also stay open and this should enable “pedagogical continuity even for poorly equipped students”.

“Moreover, universities now have access to additional funding within the framework of a special competitive fund to promote digital technology, which will strengthen the technological infrastructure in universities and better prepare them to provide e-learning,” Allouch concluded.

An opportunity for innovation

Jamil Salmi, tertiary education expert and former World Bank tertiary education coordinator, told University World News that Tunisia’s move to suspend on-campus activities again was not unexpected.

“I think that this is a very reasonable move. Many countries, the USA, UK and France for example, have rushed to reopen their campuses, sometimes under political pressure or for economic considerations. The priority for higher education ministers and university leaders today should be to protect the health of the university community,” Salmi pointed out.

“While online education will not replace the on-campus experience and is creating major difficulties for students who face internet connection challenges, it can also open new opportunities to take advantage of technology and innovations in curriculum design, pedagogical practices, and assessment to provide a more engaging educational experience,” Salmi added.

In line with Salmi's views, a 20 October white paper, Charting a Path Forward: A multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote blended learning in the Arab world, offered timely insights to guide policy-makers and higher education on how to offer more sustainable, high-quality and accredited online degree programmes and courses following the COVID-19 pandemic.