Concessions at Wits so studies can commence
Online payment forms to be signed
WITS University has made further concessions with the student representative council (SRC) to ensure the 2016 academic year starts off without further delay.
Yesterday, the university management announced that it had reached an agreement with SRC members to allow students who don’t have regis- tration fees to register. Students have been protesting since last week, demanding free education.
Wits management said it had been agreed that students who can’t afford registration fees would be allowed to register by filling in an online first fee payment form. About 3 600 students who owe the university between R1 and R1 000 as of December 2015 will be allowed to register and their debt rolled over to the 2016 academic year.
It was also agreed that:
● All students who can show that they are fully funded for 2016 will be allowed to register. They will have to sign an acknowledgement of debt for fees owed in 2015.
● The university will work with the SRC to raise funds to clear the debt of about 1 284 students who owe between R1 001 and R5 000.
● The SRC and the university will approach the Gauteng provincial government to cover the debt of about 1 420 students who owe between R5 001 and R20 000.
● University management said the children of its employees who have qualified for admission to the university and to residence will receive a full package, including tuition and accommodation.
● Students owing the university will be able to access their academic reports through
the year.
It will take about a day to implement the agreements.
Vice-chancellor Adam Habib has warned that free tertiary education would bankrupt the institutions.