Wits to poll students about resuming classes
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits University will poll students and staff to gauge how many people want the the academic year to resume.
Wits University says it will poll students and staff about resuming classes on 3 October, after all university activities were suspended following violent protests on campus.
According to a statement from the university, the institution has received hundreds of emails calling for the academic programme to resume and has responded to these concerns.
In order to facilitate as wide a response as possible to the current crisis, the university says it will run a poll later this week to gauge the thoughts of staff and students on the resumption of the academic programme, if the appropriate security measures are in place.
The university says all responses will remain anonymous, and it has requested the Independent Electoral Commission to oversee this process and to verify the results independently.
“If the majority of students and staff support the re-opening on Monday, the university will call upon government and the police to meet their obligations to protect the university’s property and to safeguard the lives of all students and staff. ” the statement read.
It added the university is extremely concerned about the unfolding and growing crisis in the higher education sector and is calling for an urgent meeting between vice-chancellors, the Minister of Higher Education and Training, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Police in order to engage further on this matter.
“Wits’ stability is important in the context of the broader higher education system,” the statement continued, adding that the academic year cannot be lost, and Wits will appeal to the university community and wider society to make all voices heard on this issue.
