Cape Town - A resurgence of violent protests at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has forced the university’s management to suspend exams “until further notice”.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said all university activities would be suspended at the institution.
“Our financial aid office was set alight and a bus was torched on our Bellville campus. In the interests of staff safety, it was decided that all campuses should remain closed until further notice from management,” Kansley said.
The wave of protests at UWC last week has also forced management to reconsider whether exams should continue at that university.
UWC spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said on Sunday the situation had deteriorated to the point that management was “deeply concerned” about exams.
“The latest developments, together with many claims made by the protesting students that they will not allow examinations to take place, have necessitated the university management to deliberate over their decision to continue with examinations on Tuesday.”
Tyhalibongo said that in an attempt to ensure safety on the campus, alternative ways to allow students to complete the academic year are being considered.
“We acknowledge that this is not ideal. However, given the abnormality of the situation, we have no option but to offer students an opportunity to avoid any personal harm.”
Tyhalibongo explained that all final-year students would participate in “some form of assessment”, with exams being held at venues off-campus.
Other students will be provided with Continuous Assessment Method (CAM) outcomes as their final results, he added.
“Students who believe that their CAM status may not be a true reflection of their performance for 2015 may apply to their faculty for an additional assessment to be taken in January, to allow them an opportunity to improve their results,” he said.
UWC’s graduation ceremonies, scheduled for December 11, have also been cancelled.
“We sincerely apologise for all the frustration, trauma and stress the recent activities have caused, and wish to assure you that all our efforts have been focused on allowing staff and students to successfully complete the academic year,” he said.
The university’s Fees Will Fall (FWF) movement has made a plea for help to “parents, academics, staff and communities around UWC”.
An FWF statement reads: “The students of UWC, your children, have over the last three weeks suffered the most physically and psychologically from not only the hands of the state and SAPS, who have shot, tear-gassed and thrown stun grenades at us, but also university management, which brought numerous private army forces to intimidate and victimise students.
“We call on parents and students to raise their voices against the militarisation of UWC. Most importantly, against management’s victimisation of students and workers who dare raise their voice in protests.”
FWF also slammed the university’s management for the arrest and subsequent expulsion of 16 students, “effectively turning them into hobos with no access to academic facilities”.
Meanwhile, UCT management has been engaging with students aligned to Rhodes Must Fall, the #FeesMustFall and #EndOutsourcng campaigns.
A proposed agreement on financial exclusions, an interdict, police on campus, deferred exams and more was distributed to “key stakeholders” for comment at the weekend.
UCT spokesperson Kylie Hatton said exams went smoothly last week.
“Overall attendance at exams so far has been in excess of 70 percent and in some specific courses exam attendance has been 100 percent. Students still have until November 27 to defer their exams (until January 2016).
“UCT remains committed to ongoing engagement in good faith through all established channels of communication with staff and students,” Hatton said.
Stellenbosch University’s (SU) SRC spokesperson James de Villiers commended activist movement Open Stellenbosch for the major role it played in taking SU forward, following the university’s decision to do away with its language policy.
“Had it not been for the continuous call from students, led by OS, the necessity of acceleration in transformation would not have been prioritised,” De Villiers said.
He added that the SRC was extremely concerned about sentiments expressed by certain SU Convocation members who spoke out against the language policy announcement last week.
“This decision isn’t about the marginalisation of any group, but rather about ensuring that all students are on an equal footing when they arrive at this university.
“We trust that council and convocation will not stand in the way of a more inclusive university and that they will realise the huge role the amended language policy will play in achieving this.”
@carlo_petersen
Cape Times
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