Lusaka — Physical learning is too costly for a poor economy like Zambia's, Southern African Network for Training and Research on the Environment (SANTREN) programme co-ordinator Professor Thomson Sinkala has said.

Speaking at the internet-based training workshop convened by SANTREN, Professor Sinkala yesterday said a lot of Zambians could not afford to go to college or university because the cost of physical education had become too costly. He said learning institutions require construction, maintenance, physical labour and in most cases travel costs.

SANTREN is developing a strategy on how virtual university which is learning through the internet could be realised in Zambia and the entire Southern African region. He said the virtual university would be actualised by developing community tele-centres all over the region so that the cost of internet connection is shared.

Professor Sinkala said they would in the next three months come up with a strategy and steps on developing this concept complete with programmes. He said if developed and proved workable, physical learning institutions would remain mere demonstration centres as is being done in the case of distance learning.

German consultant Stephan Liebenow said they had proved that a virtual university could work in this region but the issue was on sustainability. University of Zambia (UNZA) vice- chancellor Professor Mutale Chanda said distance education has now developed into a "preferred alternative" for a lot of people.

Professor Chanda said distance education was originally conceived as a substitute form of education.