The provincial executive committee of the South African Students Congress in Gauteng welcomed back all students across various centres of learning.
On 10 January, the congress said it hopes students have returned safely and are recharged for the new academic year.
Buthanani Ngwane, the provincial secretary of Sasco, said the organisation further congratulates all those who graduated last year and wished all those continuing their studies success.
“Sasco would like to extend thanks to all those who served the organisation at all levels during their time of the study,” said Ngwane.
“We also begin this year on a high note where fee-free education has been declared by the president [Jacob Zuma], so as agents of access and success, we warmly welcome the pronouncement of the first rollout and hope for full implementation without any space for error.”
Sasco has called on the government to help speed up the process of releasing results and certification of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges across Gauteng.
Ngwane said Sasco also urged the government to work on increasing the infrastructure of the sector and improve operations and basics such as the frustrating delay of results and delay of certification faced in TVET colleges.
Sasco Gauteng chairperson, Luvuyo Barnes also urged universities to allow students who have completed all requirements for qualification to be allowed to graduate.
Barnes said, “As part of their work as the students representative, we will be working towards ensuring that the state of residences at learning institutions are improved and are student conducive.
“We are tired of our students being victims of landlords who take advantage of them and make them pay exorbitant rent amounts.”
From January to March, Sasco executives will visit all university and college campuses as part of their Right To Learn Campaign.
[F] Share your message of support to students as they start their new academic year by tweeting us on @NE_Tribune
