The student representative council (SRC) of the Durban University of Technology (DUT) on Monday called off its boycott plans after the institution’s management agreed to meet several of its demands over results, fees and security.
In a meeting at the university’s Steve Biko campus, SRC president Thami Shezi had initially urged nearly 1 500 students not to register until all had received their results, financial aid issues had been resolved and security on the institution’s campus improved.
The DUT announced last week that fees were going up 7%. Registration fees were also increased from R850 to R1 000 a semester and from R1 700 to R2 000 per student studying yearly courses.
Shezi told the meeting that more than 5 000 students had not received their results and could therefore not apply for financial aid or register for the new academic year.
In a statement released late on Monday, the university’s management said: ”The university believes that an increase of 8% for 2007 is fair; we do not plan to adjust this especially in light of the fact that the university did not increase fees in 2006.”
The statement said that the results of 3 500 students on the national student financial aid scheme had not been released as they ”currently owe balances”.
The statement said the university did not guarantee 100% student loans. The management had agreed to release the students’ results and roll over the outstanding balances of students that had passed.
Shezi said that not all the SRC’s demands had been met, but that the council would review its ”decision to have mass action” on Friday. Students would continue with registration. — Sapa