Durban - Universities in KwaZulu-Natal are confident that their student record systems are accurate and tamper-proof.
Their assurances are in light of the claims by SABC chairwoman Ellen Tshabalala that the dismal academic results allegedly leaked to the media by Unisa, were not hers.
She had previously claimed that her Unisa qualifications did not reflect on the university’s records because of a problem with its computer system.
Unisa spokesman Martin Ramotshela reiterated to The Mercury that there was “absolutely no way” that the student records presented to Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications could be anyone but Tshabalala’s.
“The records are not in dispute, as far as we are concerned. We affirm that position. But if she has information to the contrary, the onus is on her to prove it. The system that we use is reliable and secure,” Ramotshela said.
Mike Naidoo, the registrar at Mangosuthu University of Technology, said he was “extremely confident” about the integrity of its student records system, and that it was subjected to electronic and manual checks.
He said it was impossible to have graduated from Mangosuthu University of Technology, and to not have it reflected somewhere - even if it was only the graduation ceremony programme. The university’s student records were subjected to an annual audit, and only certain users were allowed access.
Naidoo explained that if there was an attempt to alter a student’s records in any way, an audit report would be generated and the quality management department alerted.
Normah Zondo, a spokeswoman for the University of Zululand, said it had a “security tight” information technology system.
“Only designated officials in the registrar’s office are allowed to provide official verification and confirmations on graduates,” Zondo said.
The Mercury