Cape Town - Western Cape universities have reassured anxious students, expected to sit down for their exams, that adequate health measures to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks are in place, following student petitions – calling for contact exams to be scrapped.
Thousands of students have added their voices to online petitions calling for exams to be conducted online, amid the increased number of infections among students.
UWC has reported four new cases among students, UCT ten cases, and more than 40 at Stellenbosch University (SU). Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) did not have an update on infections.
UCT student representative council (SRC) president Declan Dyer said: “There is great anxiety among students about writing contact (exams). We do not believe management is adequately prepared. There have already been Covid-19 positive cases during exams. We have communicated this with management and submitted a survey that was conducted among students. Engagements are ongoing, but we haven't had luck so far.”
SU's SRC chairperson Xola Njengele said they were also engaging with management and were ensuring that students who were anxious received help.
“We are also making good strides in ensuring the university does take strict measures to protect students because some have co-morbidities, while others live with old people at home. As the SRC, we are aware some students are not happy with writing on campus,” said Njengele.
According to SU spokesperson Martin Viljoen, when the academic year commenced, it was continuously communicated to students that exams would be in-person.
He said the university was aware of some students expressing concerns about safety during the exams.
“Management did engage with the SRC on the issue, which resulted in, among others, that the Computer User Areas and Study Centre would be opened, and that data be provided to all students. According to our Medical Advisory Committee, our Covid-19 exam protocols are appropriate to ensure a safe environment for the continuation of assessments (which started yesterday) in sit-down, invigilated mode – as planned. A number of professional bodies require sit-down written examinations, to ensure the integrity of the assessment. There are also many students for whom online exams are a huge challenge due to internet access,” said Viljoen.
Viljoen said a number of health and safety measures were in place, including additional venues to ensure physical distancing, personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilation, and campus security to assist with crowd control outside of venues.
UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said, where possible, assessments will take place through online examinations or formative assessment procedures.
The number of students who were expected to sit in invigilated exams, from tomorrow, was a small proportion of the student body.
“UCT will apply all health and safety requirements, in line with current lockdown protocols. Ventilation has been assessed at all exam venues and upgraded where required. This may make some venues colder, so students are advised to bring a warm coat with them to exams,” said Moholola.
UWC’s Nashira Davids said the majority of assessments and exams would be taking place online and all venues will be compliant, with very strict protocols in place for contact assessments.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said assessments take place either virtually or, depending on the nature of the course, in person.
“When it needs to take place in person, then students use the facilities on a rota basis to manage social distancing,” said Kansley.
Cape Times