As public tertiary institutions have resumed following the suspension of the ASUU strike, students of the University of Port Harcourt will receive lectures via the virtual learning platform.
Acting Vice Chancellor of the UNIPORT, Professor Stephen Okodudu disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the preparedness to resume academic activities next week.
He said lecturers have been trained on how to teach virtually without challenges, adding that courses like general studies and faculty courses will be taught virtually.
Professor Okodudu who said strict measures have been put in place to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols are followed announced the ban on hostel squatting and selling of bed spaces, among others, just as he threatened to ban the use of commercial vehicles if they are found flouting the orders of compulsory wearing of face mask on the university campuses.
“We have started training our lecturers on the use of Google Meet as an alternative platform for teaching our students to avoid overcrowding. We have held discussions and actions are underway with the World Bank Centre Of Excellence to avail the University, the use of the IT facilities available to enable lecturers teaching general courses and large faculty courses to reach their students virtually.
“As much as possible, students who either live or have relations, in and around Port Harcourt have been advised to operate from home.
“We have put up advisories to the university community, staff and students to maintain all COVID-19 protocols; wear face masks. We will make sure nobody enters our campus without obeying COVID-19 protocols.
“Acting Dean, Student’ Affairs has been mandated to ensure that only those students who paid for hostel accommodation will be allowed into the hostels. What this means is that those who bought bed spaces and as such, not the original owners of such spaces, will not be allowed into the hotels.”
“The reason for this is to enable us engage in contact tracing in the event of a coronavirus infection,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that washing hand basins, hand sanitizers, infrared thermometers, two testing centers, collecting centres and COVID-19 treatment wards have been provided by the institution.
