The Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, has tightened safety and security to ensure students continue writing their mid-year exams physically on both the Bloemfontein and Welkom campus.
This is after a group of unruly students caused mayhem on both campuses on Thursday (30/06), demanding to write exams online.The rowdy protest culminated in the arrest of five male students aged 18 to 22 at the main campus in Bloemfontein. The culprits are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday (04/07), facing charges of public violence and the contravention of a court order the university had obtained.
The institution’s management has clarified the decision to have students physically write exams on campus. “The CUT is a full-contact institution and not a distance-learning institution. Therefore, it does not have the authority to accredit examinations that are not done under the CUT’s status as a full-contact institution. Furthermore, the Covid-19 restrictions which necessitated virtual classes and virtual assessments have all been suspended,” said Prof. Alfred Ngowi, CUT acting vice-chancellor and principal.He said the decisions made was to protect the rights of those willing to proceed with their mid-year exam.
“The management has put several measures in place to protect the constitutional rights of all students who are prepared to sit for physical assessments. “We wish to inform students and the community that physical assessments will proceed on both campuses as planned and scheduled.” The university’s management added that the majority of the students continued writing their exams on Friday, having started on Thursday, despite brief disruption by the protesting group.“Management has made all necessary preparations for the smooth running of the mid-year assessments. We know that most of our students are eager to complete their studies successfully by taking the upcoming examination. Therefore, the management wishes to extend their best wishes to all students,” said Ngowi.
