Covid-19 has undoubtedly presented the biggest disruptions to Higher Education institutions in recent times but how broad is the impact? HigherHealth CEO has discussed what this could mean for tertiary students in 2022.
With the necessity for behavioural change to prevent the spread of the virus, Higher Education institutions have been forced to adapt to difficult circumstances when it comes to responding to the pandemic.
In addition to this, there are fears that the Covid-19 fourth wave could derail the opening of higher education institutions but it’s not expected to disrupt learning as severely as the second and third waves.
CEO of Higher Health, Professor Ramneek Ahluwalia says that this is likely to worsen as the 2022 year progresses. He says that there has been a high demand from parents and various stakeholders in the sector to resume contact learning which has consequently led universities to adopt mandatory vaccinations.
However, according to Ahluwalia, the higher learning institutions that have opted to adopt a mandatory vaccination policy are still going through consultative processes with various stakeholders in the sector.
He adds that the outcome of these consultations is will determine whether there will be any resistance from students in the form of protest action. Higher Health has also said that it is hoping that there will be 70% contact teaching on campuses and 30% online.
He says a more viable approach for higher learning institutions would be to make students understand the science as well as the importance of taking the vaccine.