More than 1000 University of Fort Hare students are barred from writing exams starting this month due to their debts.
UFH issued a notice on Tuesday stating that students who owed 60% or more of their debt would not be allowed to sit for exams this year.
The announcement was met with consternation.
Department of Higher Education and Training spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana said it would be an “unfortunate” plan. “The institution must engage with student leaders to find workable mechanisms.”
Students said there was no consultation and they were left with almost no time to make alternative arrangements.
“We heard about it at a senate meeting,” said SRC president Busisiwe Mashiqa. “It was just announced.”
Some students blamed the university for spending the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds that should have been used to pay their fees on staff salaries.
BEd student Aluta Nqobile Mafu, 20, from East London, was one of those faced with missing the exams, which begin on October 26 and run until November 13.
“This debt is not even my own doing,” she said. “I’ve signed NSFAS agreement forms annually and my money appears on paper but does not reflect on the university’s account. I cannot be held accountable for that.”
Mafu believes either the university used her bursary to pay staff or NSFAS had budget shortfalls.
The shock announcement by the university came as Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande hosted various social partners to debate issues affecting higher education in the country, including the challenge of student funding.
Nzimande called on stakeholders to attend the three-day higher education summit in Durban to find solutions to the challenges.
The summit comes amid mounting pressure on universities across the country over funding.
UFH stakeholder relations and lobbying department manager Lizo Phiti said about 1100 students would be affected, but the number was expected to increase after verification was completed.
“This warning was done to caution students that this exercise will be undertaken. However, affected students will be individually notified.”
Phiti said student leadership had been “engaged” before the decision was made.
“In the past, withdrawal of results and graduation certificates and not registering students when they come back the following year would yield positive results,” said Phiti, adding that the situation had worsened.
“It is for the first time we evoke this rule as the conduct of non-payment has become worse.”
He said the university could have excluded all students who had not paid 100% of their fees.
“However, because the university is considerate and understands the economic climate, we made a cut-off point at 60%.”
Phiti said Mafu and others with similar problems should visit the financial aid office for help.
He said university management and students were scheduled to meet yesterday but due to plans by vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom and other senior managers and student leadership to attend an education summit, the meeting was postponed.
“It would not be fair to students if this notice would have been delayed until next week,” Phiti said.
“To be fair to the students, we have also stated that there will be an opportunity to write the examinations in January 2016 if there is progress in paying the outstanding fees.
“A meeting with the Student Representative Council (SRC) will still be held as stated above.”
Mashiqa said management had arranged a meeting for October 27, which would be too late for students as exams would be under way at the time.
“The majority of students will be affected. As we speak, about 800 first year students are affected because they are unfunded. As students, we are going to meet and decide on the way forward,” Mashiqa said.
NSFAS spokesman Kagisho Mamabolo referred questions to UFH. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za