The Democratic Alliance Students Organisation (DASO) has today written to the University of Zululand (UniZulu) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Xoliswa Mtose regarding her silence and lack of management around the university’s plans for the remainder of the academic year.
UniZulu has provided no communication on the following urgent matters:
1. The date on which the 33% of students, as per Minister Blade Nzimande’s statement, are to return to campus?
2. On what criteria will the 33% of students be selected?
3. University preparedness on Covid-19 protocols as per National Regulations on Health and Safety.
Minister Nzimande had announced that all students were to receive data to participate in online learning, but to date, no students at UniZulu have received any data, even though online learning was meant to commence on the 1st of June.
The only communication received from the university so far is that study materials will be provided either on USB or hard copies and on the Moodle platform. However, access to Moodle is difficult for many students. Aside from course material, students would still require data as they would need to conduct research and access information for assignments.
Ongoing issues around NSFAS allocations contribute to the chaos at this university. There are many students who have still not received their NSFAS allowances and have appealed but have to date not received any feedback.
Further compounding this disorganisation is the non-existence of a structure to represent students’ interests and to provide information.
There is no SRC or student administrator – and even the Dean of students has failed dismally to communicate critical information to chairpersons of student political structures on the dates for phasing in of students, lists of returning students and how this return process will be monitored to ensure the safety of all students.
It is beyond belief that UniZulu students have had to rely on social media videos, showing sanitisation of student residences and classrooms, as a hint to what is transpiring at their campus. The poor communication and disorganisation at UniZulu must come to an end as a matter of urgency.
DASO will also be taking these issues up at a national level with the portfolio committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology. As DASO, we stand for the rights of all students to access quality education.