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26 May 2020 | Story Marcus Maphile | Photo Supplied
Marcus Maphile
The African continent is known for endless wars, extreme poverty, under-development, and highly contested borders left by the legacy of colonialism. Low levels of literacy among young people and adults remain a concern in many African states. African universities are slowly beginning to play a significant role in contributing to national innovation systems that seek to change the socio-economic and other fortunes of many poor and marginalised Africans. 

The African continent celebrates the 57th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and the relevance of the current African Union (AU) in the fight against socio-economic challenges caused by COVID-19 on the continent. The fear faced by most African countries emanates from inadequate healthcare systems and facilities. The debate on the opening of schools and institutions of higher learning is passed around like a soccer ball, as countries are aware that they lack the capacity to accommodate a surge of COVID-19 infections.

The African higher education and research sector is struggling to adapt. Will they be able to play a significant role towards finding a vaccine, producing new knowledge or research from African indigenous plants?  To be factual, in many ways this is not likely to happen, as most of the higher education institutions struggle with internet connectivity and high data costs. Many books and journals in libraries remain inaccessible, and most will only later record how developed countries moved to online teaching and learning with great success or failure.   All this will happen under the noses of illiterate Africans who rightly expect their higher education and research institutions to contribute towards finding immediate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic threat.

Most public and academic libraries remain closed and there is no word and contribution from highly decorated professionals towards sustaining reading habits and availing relevant materials for research towards finding a vaccine. There is no co-ordinated plan from library ministries and or library lobby groups. This is the context in which Africa Month 2020 is celebrated. It will be remembered as the year in which the promotion of reading and the opening of schools took a beating.

Marcus Maphile is Assistant Director: Library Marketing at the University of the Free State and he writes in his personal capacity.

News Archive

Computer laboratory receives generous donation from the Dell Foundation
2008-05-12

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently received 200 computers to the value of R2 million from the Dell Foundation.

The computers will be used in the new computer laboratory, which is being built between the UFS Sasol Library and the Genmin Lectorium on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

The building will make ample provision for students who have to make use of a computer for study purposes.

Altogether 815 computers will be at students’ disposal in the new laboratory. On the ground level four rooms will be furnished with computers. Students will be able to have discussions in two of these rooms, while they can work in silence in the other two rooms.

Provision is also made for 18 group rooms, which will be furnished with a computer and big screen. These rooms can occupy seven persons and will be made available by means of a booking.

Lecture halls will be built on the second level, together with the group rooms. The largest of these will have 184 seats and can also be used as an examination hall.

Another hall with 170 seats and three with 40 seats will be available. Two lecture halls will be furnished with laptops on movable desks to enable students to work in groups.

Security cameras will be installed all over the building and strict security measures will be enforced.

The laboratory, with a total project cost of about R28 million, will be in use next year.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
12 May 2008

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