UPDATE: #FeesMustFall sees UCT graduation cancelled

Students at UCT will not enjoy their graduation ceremonies this year as these have been cancelled.

University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor, Dr Max Price, announced on Sunday (on the university’s website) that graduation ceremonies this year will be cancelled in order to allow all student the opportunity to write their final exams.

“I want to acknowledge the anxiety that many of you have experienced over the course of the last week, as a consequence of the suspension of lectures and the disruption of many university activities.Many of you have suffered distressing personal encounters with those disrupting the academic programme and residence life,” he says.

“After careful consideration and consultation, my senior colleagues and I have decided to suspend classes for the next week (Monday 26 September to Sunday 2 October 2016). The University will still be open, and all staff will continue operations during this time. The Jammie Shuttle will run, but the libraries will be closed.”

He has assured all students that the week’s suspension of lectures will not prevent the completion of the academic year, nor the writing of final exams.

“I wish to assure you that we have worked out a plan that will ensure we complete the academic year by pushing the whole calendar out by two weeks, with no reduction in teaching days, exam days or study breaks.

“Sadly, we will not be able to hold graduations this year. Official transcripts will be issued, and students and their families can return to a graduation ceremony in June 2017.

“It is unfortunately a grave reality that if we do not return to normal classes on 3 October, our ability to make up additional lost teaching days will be very complicated with severe consequences.”

Let us know how this will affect Springs residents studying at UCT.

Have your children been adversely affected by protest action?
Does this pose a problem for graduants who hoped to be graduates by the end of the year?
Will graduating in June next year instead of December this year force students to change their plans for 2017?