Stellenbosch University has barred a civil engineering student from writing an exam after she informed the institution that she tested positive for Covid-19.
Outraged at the decision, the mother of the 20-year-old student, who did not want to be identified, said the university should have made provision for students who tested positive for Covid to write in a “quarantine” room that had a glass partition separating the student from the invigilator.
The department of basic education allowed Covid positive pupils to write matric exams last year at isolation centres, such as clinics or rooms in hospital, as well as in community and church halls, or even at home.
The invigilation of the matric exams at isolation centres was conducted by health officials, teachers, exam officials and private invigilators.
Meanwhile, the student, who was to have written the paper last Monday, will be forced to re-register for the module.
Her mother informed the university that “because she [her daughter] tests positive and is honest enough to share this with the varsity, she gets penalised”.
“Surely an institution of this calibre should have a Plan B in place should a student test positive for Covid and not be able to write a ‘face-to-face’ exam.”
Surely an institution of this calibre should have a Plan B in place should a student test positive for Covid and not be able to write a ‘face-to-face’ exam
She said they lived in Port Elizabeth and had arranged accommodation for her daughter in Cape Town to write the exam.
“We then received the Covid results and were forced to cancel these plans.”
The student’s mother told the university: “How many students don’t expose their positive status for fear they will be denied the opportunity to write. Maybe we should have done the same.
“No student should be denied an exam due to testing positive. This is discrimination.”
Stellenbosch University spokesperson Martin Viljoen said the student’s situation “is indeed unfortunate and there is much appreciation for her honesty in disclosing the information to the university”.
“The university carefully considered her request but unfortunately could not accommodate it.”
He said according to the Covid 19 regulations, as soon as it is known that a student or staff member has been exposed to an individual who has Covid, that person should remain in quarantine and not attend the institution for 10 days.
“Apart from the administrative impossibility of setting up individualised exam centres at venues across the country, it would be unfair to many other students who are also unable to attend their exams in person in Stellenbosch.”
He said the particular A4 exam that the student was scheduled to write “was already an additional opportunity or Plan B” the university made available to students who were not able to write the scheduled exams last year.
“The faculty of engineering will also offer to offset the additional cost for re-registering for this module this year should the student need financial assistance.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.