Students who fall behind with their academic work continue to suffer academic exclusion despite advocacy by the Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) to change the policy.
As the second semester began on Monday, July 15, some students received emails informing them of their exclusion due to failure to meet the conditions of their readmission. The policy of academic exclusion has been a point of contestation between student representatives and university officials for many years.
Just before 2024 first semester exams, students led by the SRC marched from the Great Hall to Senate House demanding a change in the policy. The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ruksana Osman advised the SRC to consult with faculties before she could call for a Senate Teaching and Learning emergency meeting.
As students received exclusion emails on the first day of the second semester this week, the SRC issued a statement castigating university officials for excluding them from the meeting that decided the fate of students.
In response University Registrar, Carol Crosley, said the Senior Executive Team reviewed the SRC’s proposals on midyear exclusions during their meeting on July 16, 2024. After extensive discussions with the SRC, they agreed to consider the SRC’s proposal at the next Senate Teaching and Learning Committee meeting, where faculty-specific data on pass rates and cancellations is typically presented.
Meanwhile, affected students are frustrated.
Sphelele Maluleka, a second-year Bachelor of Education student, told Wits Vuvuzela that her difficulties began in 2023 when she lost a parent and had to miss her teaching practical for funeral arrangements. Although she was readmitted on the condition that she passes all modules in the 2024 mid-term exams, she struggled with new coursework and attendance due to ongoing family responsibilities. She added, “The situation is giving me sleepless nights given that I am the first in my family of 16 to go to university.”
Neliswa Mthembu, a second-year Bachelor of Education student, said, “This has to be the worst year of my life. I feel as if my overall performance was not considered at all”.
Crosley was at pains to explain that the policy is fair. She said, “It is important to note that these matters are handled individually based on each student’s circumstances, meaning that there is therefore no blanket solution that can be implemented”.
The SRC vowed to keep fighting against mid-year academic exclusion.
SRC Academic Office Subcommittee member Khutso Mahlaela told Wits Vuvuzela that the SRC Academic Office met with faculties on Wednesday, July 17, to renegotiate, expecting reduced numbers of excluded students by the end of this week.
FEATURED IMAGE: Wits student holding a mid-year exclusion caution sign. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa
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