GEORGE NEWS - Disruption of classes by students at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) Gqeberha campus resulted in the George Campus deciding to move to online teaching from Monday 19 February.
Milisa Piko, the George Campus media spokesperson, said this was a precautionary measure after the disturbance erupted at the Gqeberha campus.
Lectures at George were expected to return to normal today, Wednesday 21 February, but a group of students, not led by the Student Representative Council (SRC), protested and blocked the entrance to the campus.
“It is still not clear what the George students’ unique grievances are.
"So far all grievances have been raised under the Central SRC. Online teaching and learning will continue until such time as clarity has been established regarding the George students’ grievances.”
The Public Order police was on campus as a precautionary measure to monitor protesting students who are allowed to protest only on campus and within certain prescripts, according to Piko.
She said a meeting is being held with the protesting students this afternoon.
“To help students who do not have immediate access to wifi, the university has expedited processes to access contingency funding to allocate funding for a once-off payment for data.
"In the interim, all lectures have been recorded to enable those who presently do not have access to data, to catch up once they are back on campus or elsewhere, where the internet can be accessed for free,” said Piko.
Herald Live reported that the university obtained an order from the Gqeberha High Court on Tuesday, interdicting students from disrupting classes and preventing other students and staff from accessing that campus.
The protests follow the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) being slow in releasing student information and allowances. This has impacted registration, accommodation and student hunger, leading to the disruptions.
The university said in a statement on Tuesday 20 February that it is consistently engaged with the relevant stakeholders internally and externally and has implemented a number of temporary and emergency measures.
“The disbursement of the learning material allowance from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), the opening of the student laptop opportunity and progress made in the University’s concession process, are among the improvements under way in addressing challenges at the start of the 2024 academic year.”
Mandela University has registered 29 555 students. It said those students who are currently unregistered for various reasons, are expected to be registered before the closure of late registration.
“Many staff members, as well as the Central Student Representative Council (CSRC), have worked tirelessly for the benefit of the students and remain committed to resolving outstanding challenges,” said the university.
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