Ntsebeng Motsoeli
THE National University of Lesotho (NUL) will on 26 September 2020 hold its first ever virtual graduation ceremony for the class of 2019/20 due to the Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings.
The Covid-19 regulations prohibit public gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outside. NUL graduations often attract thousands of people.
And in light of the regulations, the university’s management said it was resorting to an online graduation ceremony to be held on 26 September.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NUL will hold an online ceremony which will be transmitted in three ways: online streaming via social media channels (NUL Facebook page, YouTube and NUL website), television and radio broadcast,” a press statement from the university reads.
The ceremony will have two segments starting with pre-recorded formal speeches by the Chancellor, King Letsie III, Vice-Chancellor Professor Kananelo Mosito; chairperson of the council, Advocate Kuena Mophethe and a representative of the graduands.
“To make the day more memorable for the graduands, the deans of faculties and the director of the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) will read names of all graduands, and these will also be shared digitally. Normally, only the names of postgraduate students are read out by the deans,” the statement said.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, graduands will be expected to collect their certificates in the week of 28 September to 2 October. A schedule for the collection of certificates will be shared.
“The past few months have been challenging for us all in the education sector, particularly the institutions of higher learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Even though the NUL managed to lower traffic congestion in recent years by splitting the ceremony into two over consecutive weekends, the number of graduands still remains high and might compromise the Covid-19 protocols. With the virtual graduation, we are not going to have any movement of graduands on campus on graduation day since they will be graduating in the comfort of their homes,” the university said.
