Students frustrated by held-over exams

As universities across the country prepare for the influx of new first-year students, some institutions still need to finalise deferred and supplementary exams.

Following student protests over several months, Wits last year allowed students who didn't feel ready, to defer exams to January.

Some students have said they have not had the same access to lecturers and facilities as students who wrote their exams in November did.

Zamayirha Peter, Wits SRC academic officer, said she had been inundated with calls from students who had problems writing deferred exams.

"The university opened on January 3, but when students arrived they couldn't access some facilities such as laboratories and libraries," Peter said.

She said the SRC had been faced with an "accommodation crisis" with students not being able to get into residences.

A third-year Wits BCom accounting sciences student, who declined to be named, said yesterday: "People who were on campus during #FeesMustFall and needed access to facilities which weren't available are most affected."

The student said she was currently living with family in Pretoria because of additional residence costs and commuted to Johannesburg to use the library.

"I really feel we're not getting the same support from the university other students have," she said.

A final-year public governance and management student at the University of Johannesburg said the university could have provided students who wrote supplementary exams with more support and communication.

"Our online portal has been on and off. It's a struggle being in final year. I can't imagine how a first-year will deal with this," she said.

Wits spokesman Buhle Zuma said: "Students have access to libraries, computer laboratories and other additional resources.

"The university opened on January 3. Students who need to consult academic staff should arrange in advance for this assistance."

Zuma said students had 24-hour access to study rooms and should "empower themselves with information and plan in advance for their studies".

Herman Esterhuizen, spokesman for UJ, said supplementary exams would run until Friday.

Students at the University of Cape Town will write exams from January 23 to February 10.

Students at North West University and the University of Pretoria have completed all deferred and supplementary exams.