26 January 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

SADTU KWAZULU NATAL is disturbed by the behavior of the management of the Durban University of Technology. The unrests that we have witnessed in the recent past cannot be over exaggerated. They are as a result of the failure of the management to listen and resolve legitimate issues raised by students.

1.       The issues around accommodation have always been a recurring problem. When students are houses in very unhygienic conditions, some of them are not even conducive to studying and we expect these students to pass. When taxis and buses make horning noises and street seller shout at their highest pitch. Accommodation that is close to market areas and places not conducive to studying should not be used for accommodating students

2.       Those who owe fees have been refused to re-register. This issue is two-fold; some is not of their own making. It is because NASFAS has not paid for their fees and they have been refused re-registration. To us that is criminal, how do you refuse a learner who is supposed to do his or second year of study because of someone else’ bureaucracy? 

3.       The students no longer have confidence in the Housing department, based on a number of discrepancies and the manner in which it has conducted itself. They would want those managing this department re-deployed to other departments where they will not be in the front line of service delivery to students because they have shown to fail.

Mangosuthu University of Technology

1.       Increment, on the fees for this year was not properly consulted with student representatives. Last year a 10% fee increment was effected and the same has been done this year. Under testing economic conditions these institutions do not care who these students whose mothers and fathers earn peanuts every month and they are expected to pay such exorbitant fees.
2.       Dean of students who is alleged to have committed fraud and students do not want to be under the management of an official under such a cloud. Therefore management of Mangosuthu must institute an investigation to prove or disprove the allegations.
Clearly all seem well at MUT for now but the above issues are under discussion with management and we hope they will reach amicable resolution to the issues soon.

SADTU calls on these institutions

1.       To ensure that they listen to the voices of the students and accommodate many who are knocking on their doors wanting to access higher education. The doors of learning should be open to all who have passed under trying conditions but have succeeded to obtain a Bachelor’s and Diploma entry to university.

2.       The students also need decent accommodation in order to ensure that they have a study under conducive conditions.

3.       Many have passed but are short of 1 or 2 points to be admitted to science and commerce fields of study but they have been refused. These students must be accommodated and supported in order to achieve academically.

4.  We as the most progressive union of teachers cannot allow our product to go down the dustbin of history when they are not allowed access in these universities, some of which have only transformed the top but the Deans and Heads of Department who dictate pass and throughput have not changed.  Students must be taught, especially in Science. Engineering and Commerce and they must not only become statistics of those who registered but never graduated, they must graduate. That is the mandate of a caring society and our government.

Launching the Education alliance

We, SASCO; YCL; COSAS; NEHAWU and SADTU have decided to come together to fight against a number of ills both at Basic and Higher Education. And we have therefore resolved to launch the Education Alliance as follows:

MEDIA BRIEFING
DATE: 28 January 2010 (Thursday)
TIME: 11H00
VENUE: SADTU HOUSE BOARDROOM (4TH Floor SADTU House; 321 Anton Lembede Street, Durban)