Wits students protest over tuition fee increase

CRrE8kkWsAAhr9s.jpg


Well that's a few grand that could have gone to subsidise a poor student's fees.
 
daveza said:
Well that's a few grand that could have gone to subsidise a poor student's fees.
Click to expand...

THATS HOW THEY DO IT IN ANY DISPUTE. If you have a grievance with any institution then burn it down. That way there is no more grievance or school or varsity or factory or job or infrastructure. Problem solved forever!
 
Representatives of Wits University Council were ready to address students today, Monday, 19 October 2015, at noon as per the agreement that was reached on Saturday morning, 17 October 2015.

The condition was that the Council representatives would have a fair chance to report. In anticipation of large numbers of students, and for health and safety reasons, Council informed the Wits Student Representative Council that this would happen on the piazza outside the Great Hall.

Council’s response was developed at a full day Council meeting held on Sunday, 18 October 2015. However, given the storming of Senate House on Monday morning, which runs contrary to the spirit of the agreement and the representative’s engagement, Council was regrettably no longer in a position to report in person.

Council will not engage with students in Senate House. Council has instructed Wits University’s executive management to clear and secure Senate House today (Monday, 19 October 2015) by 15:00. Staff and students have been requested to leave the building immediately.

Council has therefore shared with students the response from Council electronically. The statement follows below.
Council and executive management of the University remain committed to resolving the fee issue and to getting the academic project on track as soon as possible. This can only happen under safe conditions that are conducive to the academic project.

HERE FOLLOWS THE FULL STATEMENT BY THE COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND

Response from the Council of the University of the Witwatersrand on the agreement reached between Council EXO and students on 17 October 2015:

A special meeting of Council was convened on Sunday, 18 October 2015, to consider the agreement that was reached on Saturday, 17 October 2015, between the Executive Committee of Council and students. This agreement was prompted by developments at the University over the past few days and the concerns raised by students.

Council understands and appreciates the extremely difficult circumstances under which this agreement was reached. Council further appreciates the willingness of the student leadership to engage in a transparent process of renegotiating student fees for 2016.

Council recognises the absolute priority of the academic project and the international stature that the University, as an African university, enjoys. It is especially important for Wits to retain its premier academic status given the fact that we have a large number of poor students who are entitled, as are all others, to receive quality education. Council does, however, agree with students that the large fee increases are now a barrier to access for talented but financially stressed students who are prevented from realising their ambitions.

Council affirms the general principles reached in the agreement, including that the current proposal on fee increases be suspended and that a transparent process of negotiation, between the University and the students, be implemented as a matter of urgency.

Cognisant of the spirit and the conditions under which the agreement was reached, Council:

1. Heard from Council Exco, as agreed, who advanced the position put forward by students, regarding the hardships that will be created by an above inflation increase in student fees and their demand for a 0% increase.

2. Recognised the rationale for a 0% increase, given the position put forward by students that an above inflation increase is extremely onerous on students and their families in the current economic climate.

3. Recognised that above inflation increases over a number of years have created a burden of higher education costs that is becoming increasingly difficult for students and their families to sustain.

4. Deliberated on the conditions that have forced fee increases over the years. These include the decline in state subsidy. This is made worse by above inflation increases in the costs related to infrastructure, utilities, including lights and water, and the falling rand-dollar exchange rate, which have resulted in a substantial increase in the cost of all library books, journals, electronic resources and research equipment.

In recognition of the issues that were advanced by students, Council has considered a number of substantive ideas and options to address the fee increase challenge. These possible mechanisms include:

1. Austerity measures to ensure that the University’s financial resources are biased towards the academic project and improved access. All non-essential expenditure will be interrogated.

2. Discounts for NSFAS and financially stressed students, and the sourcing of additional funding from external sources.

3. Waiving the upfront fee for not just NSFAS students, that is already a practice at Wits, but for all qualifying students.

4. The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Adam Habib, has committed that, given the context, any performance bonus that is due to him for 2015 will go towards access for deserving students.

5. Continued engagement with government with regards to addressing the identified shortfall in funding for higher education.

In keeping with both parties’ commitment to negotiations, Council agrees that these options must be considered through a deliberative process and concrete negotiations, in line with the University’s governance procedures. Council has established a team and is requesting the student community and the Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) to establish a similar team to partner with Council on resolving this issue as anticipated in the agreement. A process will also be established that will enable all financial and other information to be made available to all parties.

The outcome of these negotiations will be presented to Council as soon as possible, or by the latest, at the next Council meeting.

The University will resume academic operations on Tuesday, 20 October 2015 to enable students to conclude their studies and prepare for examinations.
 
Wits fees must fall now - Gauteng education MEC

Adam Wakefield, News24

Johannesburg - The fees at Witwatersrand University must fall, and they must fall now.

This was the message from Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi on Monday as a number of South Africa's university campuses were gripped by a wave of student activism against inhibitive fees and the rising costs of higher education.

"I can tell you I'm on the side of the students without any hesitation, obviously excluding the violence part of it," Lesufi told journalists at a briefing on preparations for this year's matric exams in the province.

"I really believe that this country can afford free education to the poor. I believe the students are right when they say they are nominally expensive... I'm saying some institutions are using their brand to exclude certain students."

Lesufi's comments come as Wits students readied for a special assembly following protests last week, while classes at the University of Cape Town, and Rhodes University in Grahamstown were suspended on Monday as students blockaded access to campuses.

The MEC said his department had given Wits R38m, outside of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), since he believed "in supporting talent".

"We aren't happy. You check the fees of engineering students at Wits compared to Tukkies [University of Pretoria] or UJ [University of Johannesburg], Wits is the highest," he said.
"That is why we have given UJ R200m, because we have more students at UJ... so I'm not speaking off the rooftop. I'm doing something about it, we are investing R400m in the higher education budget, not NSFAS, as a department."

They were doing this because the department wanted to recruit the best candidates to work for the province.

"I'm urging the council of Wits, they must respond positively to the demands of learners and they must review their fee structures. You can't be an island compared to other universities in the province," he said.

Wits has pointed to increased costs of buying library books, journals, electronic resources, and research equipment due to the weak rand-dollar exchange as one of the reasons why they had to increase fees.

Lesufi however felt the university should review their agreements with suppliers if that was the case.

"I'm very passionate about student politics. I'm a product of that process and I don't want other students to be denied to be better people because they cannot afford the fees," he said.

"Fees at Wits must fall, they must fall now."


News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Wits-fees-must-fall-now-Gauteng-education-MEC-20151019
 
Wits students storm building amid tuition protests

JOHANNESBURG – Hundreds of Wits University students have stormed into a building on campus.

The university's council members were expected to address the students outside at midday after suspending the 10.5 percent fee hike for 2016.

The meeting with council members was supposed to take place on the steps of the Great Hall, but after arguing with security, students stormed into the building, breaking one of the glass doors.

Protesting students staged a sit-in, saying they would not leave campus until their demands were met.

They want the university to scrap fee increases for next year, saying tertiary education should be accessible and another hike is simply not affordable.

Council members are expected to give students feedback about decisions made during an emergency meeting held over the weekend.

There’s still no indication whether a council meeting will take place this afternoon to address fee increases, but a sound system has been set up inside Senate House, for council members to speak to students.

University officials have also not yet clarified whether the meeting will in fact take place.

Students are singing and dancing, calling for proposed fee increases to be scrapped so that tertiary education can be more accessible.
Click to expand...

More at http://ewn.co.za/2015/10/19/Wits-students-storm-building-amid-tuition-protests
 
Due to the ongoing protests, and concerns for the health and safety of our staff and students, it has been decided that Wits University’s academic project will be suspended for Tuesday, 20 October 2015. The suspension will be reviewed depending on further developments.

The University will continue to communicate with staff and students, and will issue a notification regarding the resumption of the academic project as soon as circumstances allow.

The University Council and executive management remain committed to finding an amicable resolution and are willing to engage student leadership to facilitate this. However, students are urged not to congregate in the Senate House Concourse, for health and safety reasons.

The University thanks staff and students for their patience in this matter.
 
rpm said:
Due to the ongoing protests, and concerns for the health and safety of our staff and students, it has been decided that Wits University’s academic project will be suspended for Tuesday, 20 October 2015. The suspension will be reviewed depending on further developments.

The University will continue to communicate with staff and students, and will issue a notification regarding the resumption of the academic project as soon as circumstances allow.

The University Council and executive management remain committed to finding an amicable resolution and are willing to engage student leadership to facilitate this. However, students are urged not to congregate in the Senate House Concourse, for health and safety reasons.

The University thanks staff and students for their patience in this matter.
Click to expand...

The protesters got what they wanted. Another "free" holiday.
 
Wits students vow to close university after council snub

Jeanette Chabalala and Adam Wakefield, News24

Johannesburg - Protesting Witwatersrand University students on Monday vowed to shut down the institution until their grievances were heard.

This follows the university council refusing to address the thousands of students gathered at Senate House on Monday following an agreement on Saturday.

Council said students had gone against the "spirit" of the agreement by violently entering the building.

Instead, council posted its response on the university's website.

Former SRC president Mcebo Dlamini, stripped of his position earlier this year by vice chancellor Adam Habib for comparing all white people to former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, spoke to the students and made it clear the university had more to lose than they did.

"It is clear the university doesn't take us seriously... Today they [are]proving exactly who they are. We said to Adam Habib we are failing to talk to you. We now ask to speak to your handlers," he said to the assembled crowd.

"I know some of you might be dejected, you might be losing hope. Victory is certain. Wits University will remain closed up until our grievances are heard."

He called the university's council intellectual thugs, as they had been "very strategic" when announcing the proposed fee increases for next year.

"They increase fees during exam time. They are very strategic," he said to cheers.

"They have to finish the syllabus which they haven't finished. They can't afford to close... With these words I'm saying to you, we will write exams in this university with no fee increment... All we want is fees not to increase."

He said the question of university fees was now a national crisis, with classes called off at both the University of Cape Town and Rhodes University in Grahamstown on Monday.

"It's not only about Wits anymore. Government will have to intervene. Stakeholders will have to intervene," Dlamini said.

"If we need [to], we are going to shut the gate."

Students later dispersed from Senate House and left campus, taking their protest to the streets.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/N...-close-university-after-council-snub-20151019
 
Protesting students target motorists

Johannesburg - Protesting Wits students, who have taken to the streets near the campus, are now targeting motorists.

News24 reporter on the scene, Jeanette Chabalala said hundreds of students who were protesting on Empire Road close to the campus had blocked the road with rocks.

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department were on the scene and were advising motorists to take alternate routes.

Chabalala said one female passenger had climbed out of a bus to confront the students.

"But they threatened to beat her up," said Chabalala.

She said students were wielding rocks and sticks while singing and chanting.

Wits students, along with students at other campuses around the country, have been protesting against proposed fee hikes for 2016.

More to follow.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Protesting-students-target-motorists-20151019
 
schumi said:
Johannesburg - Protesting Wits students, who have taken to the streets near the campus, are now targeting motorists.

News24 reporter on the scene, Jeanette Chabalala said hundreds of students who were protesting on Empire Road close to the campus had blocked the road with rocks.

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department were on the scene and were advising motorists to take alternate routes.

Chabalala said one female passenger had climbed out of a bus to confront the students.

"But they threatened to beat her up," said Chabalala.

She said students were wielding rocks and sticks while singing and chanting.

Wits students, along with students at other campuses around the country, have been protesting against proposed fee hikes for 2016.

More to follow.

News24
Source
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Protesting-students-target-motorists-20151019
Click to expand...

These same kants will be protesting for 16% payrises once they enter the labour market.
 
I'm disgusted. Protests turning violent invalidating everything they are fighting for, and the Gauteng education MEC showing he's just another politician trying to earn some quick favour.

I'm proud to be a product of an institution that stands tall on this continent, but to be associated with these savages through the same name is just not on. Will these people consider working to put themselves through university? I did with nothing more than hard graft after hours and on weekends, but somehow they can't?

Both my sister and SO are currently studying at Wits, and seeing the amount of time they're losing out due to this protest action pains me.

Viva Africa, Viva!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X