Emergency Remote Teaching in Higher Education During Covid-19: Challenges and Opportunities

The third quarter of 2020 marks the closure of on-campus face-to-face pedagogies in South Africa’s institutions of higher learning due to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The need to maintain social distancing necessitated the transition to emergency remote teaching. A few institutions of higher learnings could move their classes effectively to online and distance education platforms because of their pre-existing experience and some grapple with managing the ‘new normal’. This article reflects on the challenges and opportunities of an emergency remote teaching in institutions of higher learnings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article adopted a qualitative approach through relevant literature and policy reviews to critically analyse emergency remote teaching during the era of COVID-19. The findings indicate that some staff and students experience challenges related to the lack of resources and exposure to remotely use information and communication technology. The article acclaims that institutions of higher learnings should acquire suitable information and communication technology equipment and develop the requisite facilities, implement rules and regulations for their availability, and adequate maintenance. This recommends promoting technologically compliant ethics within the institution, provide easy access to teaching and learning by both students and academic staff at an affordable and fixed (secure) cost in safe, conducive, and unrestricted environments for students.