Doing what it takes to pass

18 October 2016 - 09:42 By ARON HYMAN

From lectures in lounges to classes in coffee shops - such is the life of many Cape Peninsula University of Technology students amid violent #FeesMustFall protests. They are determined to finish their academic year and the lecturers, says university spokesman Lauren Kansley, are taking the initiative.One lecturer, who did not want to be named, said that in order to get his students through the remainder of their work they were meeting at different locations around Cape Town."We have probably been to 40 different locations. Whether it is at coffee shops, or a park or golf clubs, we need to do whatever we can to get things across," he said. It would be "very unfortunate" for final-year students not to graduate and get a job or start an internship, he said.One student said having classes at different locations such as a museum was like "going on an excursion".Since last week several universities around the country have announced dates for the start of exams, most of which will be two weeks later than initially planned.A paramedic student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology said his faculty had decided to complete the curriculum in August in anticipation of a repeat of last year's protests. The students were now doing practical training at hospitals, he said.University of Witwatersrand spokesman Shirona Patel said strict conditions were being implemented on campus, including restriction of fee-free protesters to certain areas and an increased police presence.Patel said 80% of the academic programme had resumed following a three-week shutdown...

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