Unisa online - Unisa willing to help students with debts

Unisa willing to help students with debts

Unisa's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barney Pityana, has encouraged students who are defaulting on their payments to approach the university in order to structure their payments. He said the university is prepared to help students with financial difficulties.

"The university is open to helping students with problems paying their fees, and they should come forward and negotiate with us. They may be allowed to write their examinations, but there should be an agreement. What is not acceptable is for them to stay away and assume they will be allowed just like that,” said Prof Pityana.

Already, the university is owed an amount of R 226 516 000 by 131 000 students. The final date for payment for second semester courses was 15 August 2009.

Meanwhile, Prof Pityana announced and congratulated the newly elected SRC and also tasked them with providing suitable services to the student body that will up student confidence and participation in the SRC activities.

"There is a great deal ahead of you in terms of your role in the institution, especially that of advancing the interests of the students. There has been a steady decline of student participation in SRC elections over the years and the annual student satisfaction index shows that students are not satisfied with services that they get from the SRC. I urge you to find ways of bringing and winning their confidence back,” said Prof Pityana.

The SRC elections that were held last year were declared null and void because of   an unacceptably low participation rate.

During the recent SRC elections, however, 9 percent participated in the election. A total of 16 736 ballots were received from 180 000 eligible voters. The voting was conducted in person at designated voting stations in the six regions as well as electronically on the myUnisa website.

In the regions, KwaZulu-Natal had the highest turnout with 4978 students voting; Pretoria had 4 933; Johannesburg 3446; Cape Coastal 1638; North Eastern 1 108; and the Midlands region 633.
The National SRC outcomes are:

The poll results of the regions as well as the independent candidates are attached for further information. The report of the IEC Chairperson, Prof Maluleke is also attached.

*Press statement issued by Unisa on 26 August 2009.