South Africa: Varsity, students agree to freeze fee hikes

South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the Students’ Representative Council have reached a resolution on a series of proposals, including an agreement to freeze the hiking of academic, residence and any other fees, Wits said on Tuesday.
According to the deal, the university committed to establishing its own internal commission to investigate the effects of outsourcing services on the university, the cost structures associated with in-sourcing and possible alternative models.

In addition, there will be no disciplinary measures taken against students who were involved in legitimate forms of protests. As a result of the resolution, the academic programme and all university activities will commence on Wednesday, the accord said.

“We have agreed to postpone the examinations and a new examination timetable will be shared with students before the end of the week,” a statement from the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Adam Habib, said on behalf of the senior executive team at the talks that took place Monday evening.

The statement said the two sides had recognised the achievement of the student movement to place on the national agenda the issue of affordable and quality higher education in the country.

Students at Wits three weeks ago were the first to rise up against a proposed 10 percent increase in university fees for the 2016 academic year, which sparked off mass protests by students from higher education institutions across the country.

Meanwhile, the University of Cape Town campus will remain closed until 30 October. But UCT Vice-Chancellor Max Price has made a commitment to bring a proposal to the students’ council on the question of outsourcing and in-sourcing by 1 November 2015.

The exams scheduled to be written from 27 October to 13 November have been postponed, pending a new date.

Signature : APA

Copyright : © APA