An alleged computer glitch at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) “mistakenly” deregistered 120 students, who had been flagged as underperformers, preventing them from completing their studies last year.
The WSU has acknowledged the bungle and has launched an investigation, promising to hold accountable those responsible.
The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has since criticised the university, claiming the incident was intentionally meant to sabotage students.
However, the WSU says it “confirms that several students were academically excluded and thus deregistered during the 2020 academic year, which is an acceptable practice in higher education institutions. WSU student records reflect that all deregistered students were duly informed of their deregistration.
“Unfortunately, some students were erroneously academically excluded in the process. Thirty percent of the overall cohort deregistered were later reinstated.”
Moreover, the university says it is aware that some student financial records continue to reflect amounts due despite deregistration.
“The latter results from an unfortunate system backlog caused by delays ensuing from the COVID-19 national lockdown. The WSU student fees system debits student fees on an annual as opposed to a monthly basis, and the lockdown has slowed the process of crediting deregistered students accordingly.
“WSU has been actively assisting students on a case-by-case basis to rectify the situation, as each case is unique. However, our efforts have been hampered by the continued uncertainty caused by the various levels of national lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and hence the delay.”
University management and the Institutional Student Representative Committee met yesterday to discuss corrective recommendations.
“The university, however, assumes full responsibility and offers an unqualified apology to affected students and their families. We assure you that the matter is under investigation and that consequence management will occur where necessary.”
Meanwhile, SASCO says it will lead a digital march tomorrow ahead of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.
The student body says its digital march will voice that the R9 billion cut from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme must be allocated back, and demand an increase in student funding, increased student allowances, student debt clearance, and a clear funding plan for the missing middle.
SASCO says these are but some of the challenges which face the higher education and training sector in the country and it believes the president must urgently address these issues.
“This decision comes in the wake of the continued arrogance displayed by the government of the day, especially within the department of finance, with the treasury continuing to run this government as though it was not elected on its manifesto on the backs of the working class,” reads the SASCO statement.
“We lobby the whole South African community, NEHAWU, YCLSA, and the Alliance (SACP and Cosatu) to join our picket and digital march as we believe this arrogance, coupled with this anti-poor policy direction, is nothing but a reversal of our progressive collective gains.”
Share