DURBAN - DEBILITATED by student protests, South African public universities are now looking to form a formal structure that will be aimed at addressing students challenges before they fester into problems.
Chairpersons of the Council of 10 universities met in a virtual meeting this week to chart a way forward.
At least two institutions of higher learning in KwaZulu-Natal have been beset by violent student protests in the past few weeks.
A statement released this week under the name of Chairpersons of Council of Public Universities, convener, Morailane Morailane, said the current unrest at some of the universities remains a matter of extreme concern.
The statement was released via the Mangosuthu University of Technology’s communications office.
The statement said the reason for the meeting was to explore how to contribute solutions to issues affecting the public university sector in South Africa particularly those that manifest in student action that disrupts academic activities.
“The meeting agreed that while universities are autonomous and have unique histories and legacies, including resource endowments, there are issues of common interest that would be best addressed through their collective effort.
“To this end, the meeting undertook to re-establish a formal structure of Chairpersons of Councils which amongst others will be the voice of the councils of universities on common matters of interest in the sector.”
The meeting undertook to bring on board all other public universities into the soon to be re-established formal structure.
The universities will be called together within a month to constitute the structure and contribute to the solutions on the issues at hand.
THE MERCURY