media releases - Unrest at Durban Campus - The new registration process

The University of South Africa has consulted fully with all stakeholders, including the elected student representative council, regarding the new registration procedures for first-time students. The new registration system is one of the several ways in which Unisa is striving to improve service to its students. Increased tutorial support will also help improve student results. Unisa has also spent R250-m on the University’s infrastructure in improving facilities at regional offices throughout the country.

This was said by the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barney Pityana at today’s media conference held on the Pretoria main campus. The conference was held following the illegal demonstration protesting the new registration system that turned violent at the Durban campus late last week. A student was found dead outside the International Conference Centre during the demonstrations. A medical examination showed he died of natural causes but a post mortem will also be conducted. Police were called in when the demonstration turned violent. The demonstrators damaged property, intimidated staff and students and candidate attorneys who were writing examinations for the Law Society were prevented from doing so.

Prof Pityana said the revised registration system had been the focus of a campaign since July. This campaign included advertisements, editorial in the mass media, as well as information sessions at all regional offices and direct communication with current students. Consultations had been held with all stakeholders, including the University’s official student representative bodies. The Young Communist League in Durban was not part of these official bodies.

The system requires first time students to apply to the Central Applications Office prior to registration. This office will scan the student applications to ensure they meet the necessary requirements and have provided the required documentation.

Applicants are then given a student number which they will use when they register. Registration will take place at the new registration facility on the Sunnyside campus in Pretoria and at regional office where they will do so at the computer self-help points where assistants will be on hand to help them. In addition they can register as usual through the post, online, or by fax.

Once payment has been received, tutorial matter will be posted to them. Study material is sent free of charge to the student, but if a student wished it to be couriered he or she would bear the cost. Students can also download their tutorial matter on to a compact disc at the Sunnyside campus, at the regional centres or off the website, if they so wish. Application forms can also be handed in to the South African post office where the documents will be scanned in and emailed directly to Unisa. Study fees can also be paid at the Post Office.

Prof Pityana explained that there were an increasing number of school leavers registering at Unisa who wished to have full time facilities. Unisa as a dedicated distance education university did not have the infrastructure to deal with this. Unisa had examined the ways in which to relieve the bottleneck of students registering in person over the counter during registration times. Decisions were taken to change the first time registration system precisely to improve service to students. In Pretoria a student hub was being formed and a new registration hall at a cost of R208-m built on the Sunnyside campus. Current students can already merely register through the post, on the internet or by fax. Registrations are only confirmed once payment has been received. No payments by cheque are accepted because of the time needed to clear the cheques.

The revised system will cut down on delays in dispatch of study material and increase the time students can learn before examinations. Unisa’s student numbers were growing – this year the number grew by 16 percent – and it was important that the number of active students grew. Active students are those who submit the required assignments and write the examinations. These tend to be the more successful students.