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The situation is back to normal at the Northern Cape Urban Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College campuses in Kimberley following what is regarded as fruitful engagements between the college management and protesting students.
This followed the college’s plan to no longer offer second chances and that it will not be offering part-time, correspondence, repeaters, exam only and supplementary courses.
The college promised now that no changes will be implemented in terms of the 2019 modes of delivery for part-time, correspondence, repeaters, exam only and supplementary students.
The announcement was made during Monday’s (17/09) media briefing by management to retract its dropped bombshell of Wednesday, 5 September.
The frustrated students took to the streets and declared a shutdown upon seeing the notices on social media and noticeboards. This sparked protests and students declared a shutdown at all three Kimberley campuses.
The college issued an apology to the students and affected parties and cried miscommunication.
Plans were made for those students who missed out on their assessments on the two days when management addressed them.
According to the newly appointed college principal, Brian Madalane, the move was aimed at benefitting the college and students by improving the college’s enrolment of students, optimal utilisation of resources and improving the academic performance.
He pointed out changes that need to be made in terms of improving the current pass rate at the college through engagements and correspondence in preparation of the 2019 academic year.
Madalane singled out the concerns around corresponding students who do not get text books, and part-time students whose safety is being compromised.
He admitted the majority of part-time students can still be accommodated into full-time classes as there is space.
“We must continue with part-time, but we must also correct it. How do we have young ones fresh from school going for part-time classes?” said the principal.
He also raised the concern of incompetent lecturers, of which students only tend to complain about after having failed.
The college will implement a policy summit and an academic conference to continue engagements with students.
Madalane said the college is working on establishing relationships with other institutions. They are also determining whether the college caters for the relevant courses for the needs on the Northern Cape population.
