Protocol of the PoliTeknik Meeting with Students and Human Rights Representatives

01.05.2020
Contents

1. Introduction of the Participants:
2. What is the current situation in your countries?
3. How should we act and what should be the next steps?

Concluding Remarks

On 1^st of May 2020, the representatives of student unions from various countries along with human rights activists , had Skype meeting with the PoliTeknik Editorial Board to discuss current situation in their respective countries amidst COVID-19 Pandemic,  and if it is possible, to draw up a petition/communique that will be delivered to his Excellency Antonio Guterres.

After the brief initial introduction, they all they shared both their personal and national experiences concerning the pandemic. The common issues addressed by participants notwithstanding geographical differences showed that:

• COVID-19 pandemic showed that digital learning shows that the majority of students worldwide do not have a stable access to internet and thus, unable to participate in the digital learning,

• People who work in the informal economy are facing imminent danger daily and threats of losing income amidst of the Lockdown,

• There are governments who are reluctant to address the gravity of the situation and are actively disregarding scientific evidence about the pandemic thus they do not assert lockdown measures which results in the inflation of the COVID-19 cases in their countries,

1. Introduction of the Participants:

Below are the peoples who participated in the meeting in alphabetical order:

Brazil

• Natália Ramos (Levante Popular da Juventude)
• Maria Luísa Meira (Human Rights Commission of Brazilian Law Association – Federal University of Paraíba)
• Raquel Melo (Federal University of Paraíba)

Peru

• Marco JeanPaul Apaza Gonzales (Federación de Estudiantes del Perú)

Gambia

• Lagamy Gumaneh (Information and Communications Officer, University of The Gambia Debate Association)

Mozambique

• Crespim Estêvão Mabuluco (Coordenador do departamento de comunicação da – Associação dos Estudantes Universitários Finalistas de Moçambique – AEFUM)

Uganda

• Atukwatsa Celine Don: Student leader, Uganda National Students’ Association.
• Citizens’ Secondary school.

Malawi

• Emmanuel Kaliwo (Secretary General for Board of Trustees, Malawi National Students Union)

South Africa

• Yonela Mlambo (PoliTeknik international editorial board member, University of Cape Town)

Benin

• Alain Eklou (Fédération Nationale des Étudiants du Bénin)

Zambia

• Steven Kanyakula (Vice President, Zambia National Students Union)
• Milner Kazembe (The University of Zambia Student Union)

Algeria

• Ratni Mohamed Raouf (University of Algiers 3 faculty of economic sciences, business and management sciences)

Greece

• Andreas Ioannidis

2. What is the current situation in your countries?

Brazil

• Although lockdown and social isolation started before other countries, president and the central government maintained their stance against this, which has made it difficult to prevent large number of cases and widespread transmission of CoVID-19,
• A silver lining is that people are helping each other through this crisis.
• A major portion of the population is struggling to meet basic needs like shelter and basic healthcare and are vulnerable to hunger,
• An internal conflict between the president and Ministry of Justice due to President’s interference in the working of Justice Department has led to the current health crisis being just one of many problems the country is facing, it would be good if we could elaborate how this affect the implementation of lockdown regulation perhaps
• Some state governors have put forward action teams and they try to help people although they lack support from the central government. Furthermore, the central government doesn’t sufficiently support states governed by the opposition candidates,
• The Northeast region of Paraiba is one of the poor regions and most affected by CoVID-19,
• Class discrimination is rampant during the current health crisis,
• Not enough PPE’s for health workers,
• Regarding education:
  • Public education is not a priority for the current administration and privatization of education has become the focus,
  • Hunger, destitution are main issues and long-distance education is still a far-fetched dream,

Peru

• Due to an informal economy with many people are working paycheck to paycheck and it has been difficult to effectively deal with the current lockdown,
• Social inequality is another major issue,
• Regarding education:
  • Inequality access opportunities to education for pupils and students,
  • Lack of internet connectivity and basic technology,

Gambia

• Low number of cases and small businesses are negatively affected because of fewer customers and thus that affect their profit margins,
•  Internet accessibility remains one of the biggest challenges for college and school students albeit government is working towards improving the current situation in particular for school students,
• Silver lining is community support,

Uganda

• The situation is quite bad, and the temples are closed,
• Public transport is shut down,
• Country has fallen hard time as schools, churches and other major public institutions are closed,
• Businesses are closed thus economy is experiences the worst hit,
• Security personnel have been harsh,
• Future of graduating classes are in a state of limbo,

Malawi

• Government is trying to politicize the pandemic,
• Results of the previous election were nullified,
• Elections are scheduled for the summer but there might be changes to this depending on the current health crisis,

Zambia

• Government deals with the situation quite professional and very cautious,
• Government is trying hard to do everything to fight the virus and keep the economy stable,
• Schools are closed down,
• President issued guidelines to curb the spread of the virus declaring that citizens are to wear face masks in public areas,

Benin

• People are trying to self-isolate stay,
• Social distancing and wearing face masks in public areas is mandatory,
• After 11 May 2020, Benin will experience lockdown regulation relaxation,

South Africa

• Covid-19 significantly exposed lack of social cohesion and historical inequalities in the country,
• City of Cape Town residences, in their large numbers, took it to the streets jogging and ignoring the self-isolation principle in fighting against the spread of Covid-19,
• The institutionalized corruption in the country reared its ugly face in the distribution of humanitarian aid looted by African National Congress councilors,

Mozambique

• We are on the second month ever since the government declared a state of emergency,
• For a long time CoVID-19 was a distant disease for the country.,
• There are 119 cases of CoVID-19 so far,
• People don’t understand the gravity of current crisis,
• Restrictive conditions and bad healthcare infrastructure have worsened the pandemic,
• Dominant informal sector has rendered their second lockdown ineffective,
• Regarding education:
  • Distance education has been adopted since universities and schools are closed,
  • However, only urban residing students have internet connectivity which poses serious problems for rural dwelling students,

Algeria

• The government deals with the situation quite professionally,
• People need receive financial aid from the government,
• Social distancing and wearing face masks in public areas is mandatory,
• Holy month of Ramadan is going on and government is slowly easing up certain restrictions although health and well-being of people remains government priority,
• Algeria is resolute in its stance against any politicization and economic capitalization of this pandemic at the expense of the health and human life, and it is for this reason government adopted a principle for providing free medicine,

Greece

• Government acted proficiently and professionally,
• There are fines imposed to those violating lockdown regulations,
• Unemployment rate has spiked by 4-5 percent during this time, and the workers are facing pay cuts and future employability is a big concern for workers,
• Hiring of doctors was halted last year which has come as a major setback during the crisis,
• There is overcrowding of refugees in the eastern Greek islands,
• Overall government does good work,
• Regarding education:
  • Refugee children have no access to education, internet facilities and modes to access educational content,
  • E-learning has increase but not everyone has internet access,
  • Teachers are facing issues with technology as well,
• Students are trying to use social media to get their daily lessons and some classes are aired via the national channels. Universities are adopting similar strategies,

3.  How should we act and what should be the next steps?

Brazil

• Society must come together,
• Quality of remote education must be improved,
• University students have been helping school kids who do not have access to education during this time,
• Petition to UN and to UNESCO,
• Testimony collection, sample of short videos showing actual condition and experiences of people in the country,
• People should realize remote education does and cannot substitute the regular education in the institutions,

Peru

• Increase access to education,
• Provident student with better internet, tablets, PCs for learning,

Gambia

• We must include small businesses relief package,
• Government should not tackle these issues as political opportunities,
• Send the prepared communique, petition to the local governments as well,
• Online campaign and video collection documenting students’ experiences,

Uganda

• …

Malawi

• We must encourage more local solutions,
• Different voices from the locals should be considered,
• Special emphasis should be given to local and country specific solutions while not discarding UN and other international bodies solutions,

Zambia

• Collective voices from all the countries,
• Planning for other such crisis in the future at all fronts, health, education and economy,
• Learn from other countries and implement those policies,
• Better internet facilities and health facilities for everyone,

Benin

• …

Mozambique

• Inclusion and accessibility are the main concerns regarding education,
• Better internet connectivity to everyone would be a major step,
• Fight for inclusive and wholesome education is needed especially during these times,
• Petition right way forward with dialogues with other organizations and associations,

Algeria

• A short video clip of the human suffering to deliver the gravity of the situation,
• Human rights to be respected and right to education for everyone being tested during these times,

Greece

• Informing the teachers about the new ways of education that works better in extreme situations,
• Greek government must distribute laptops to the people in small villages and in the countryside, who do not access to the internet and digital learning,
• Provision of internet facilities, laptops, PCs for students not neglecting refugee children in the country,
• Internet access to everyone,
• Books should be delivered to every student’s address,

Concluding Remarks

• Internet connectivity and resources for students is a problem across the world,
• Social equality and inclusion another common point I would suggest we remove this concluding remark unless we expand on it,
• Economic concerns are major for Brazil, Greece, Gambia, Mozambique, Peru, and Uganda,
• Even though some countries are tacking the situation better than others, the lack of access to the internet and technological equipment is a universal problem,
• The situation does not look good for the countries with reactionary government who might exploit the situation and violate fundamental human rights, freedom of press and freedom of speech,
• It is also quite important to see what will happen after the coronavirus,
• The marginalized communities across all the countries remain marginalized when it comes to internet access,

Many thanks to Akash Yadav for his neat note taking and structured document. Thanks to Yonela Mlambo to send his views on South Africa. Finally, thank you so much to all the participants who shared their experiences.

Compiler and co-keeper of the minutes: Can Aydın