Tensions remained high at institutions of higher learning yesterday as Minister Blade Nzimande called for calm and met vice-chancellors to seek a solution.The University of Pretoria was engulfed in violence this week when students demanded a change in language policy. Clashes broke out between Afri Forum-aligned students and those led by the EFF.On Monday chaos erupted at the University of the Free State after a night of violence at a rugby match, and yesterday black students retaliated and went on a rampage at the campus, burning the statue of former apartheid-era president CR Swart.The student representative council at UP condemned the violence. SRC president Thabo Shigange said the university had restored order on campus, and the SRC was in talks with the vice-chancellor and had made contact with the Department of Higher Education to find a solution.Shigange said the SRC was worried by the violence and how it had intensified."The SRC has an obligation to uphold and preserve the integrity of the institution," said Shigange. "We are engaging with the Progressive Youth Alliance, the EFF, Afriforum and other social movements outside to restore calm and order."He said he had been in contact with the SRC at the UFS and had pledged support for a peaceful engagement."What we are seeing is a polarisation of critical issues at our universities and our lines are open to UFS on how best both universities can assist one another in restoring the peace in our campuses and preserving the integrity of our institutions," said Shigange.Higher Education spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana said the disruptions at the universities of the Free State and of Pretoria, as well as the violence at UCT last week, clearly showed that "fringe elements" were trying to destabilise the institutions as part of a "perverse political agenda"."Students seem not to be interested to engage, they just quickly go on strike before even any exhaustive engagement or whatever demand they might be having an end to, which is something we are not used to."..