Lourens van Staden, the Vice-Chancellor of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), spoke on how TUT aims to save the academic year and what changes students will see due to the pandemic.
Due to Covid-19, Universities, as well as other higher education institutions, have had to come up with creative and new ways to continue teaching and learning while campus-based activities are not allowed as the Minister of Higher Education has ruled.
In a statement released by the University, it was stated that, "All campus residences will remain closed, no students will be allowed on any campuses." Contact learning and teaching will only continue once the lockdown levels drop.
A rumour circulated in media that the University was considering cancelling the 2020 exams for it's students. However, Van Staden responded and said that this was false and that they never considered it. Instead, exams will be written at a later stage, most possibly in 2021. They are considering a new academic calendar.
TUT has set up a survey for their students to answer so that they could make plans on how teaching could continue according to their student's needs. The Vice-Chancellor has said that 90% of TUT's students come from deep rural areas and to implement their emergency remote learning strategy, they will need to make arrangements for these vulnerable students.
What the University has planned is that a bulk of students will receive printed learning materials to the door and others who have indicated that they prefer online learning will do so. These learning programmes will start on 1 June.
Van Staden has stated, "we will try our level best and we will do what we can to complete the [academic] year" and suspects that it will most probably go into 2021. The University is looking at having the academic year continue on campus on 3 August 2020.
As for providing students with laptops so that they can continue with online learning, the University has said that this is "at an advanced stage".
By continuing the academic programme on 1 June, TUT has said, "This will give us an opportunity to complete 27 weeks of teaching and learning before final exams are written, probably next year." As for proposed exam dates, they are as follows:
- First Year Students March 2021
- Second Year Students April 2021
- Final Year & BTech Students February 2021
These later dates would give Matrics who wish to attend TUT in 2021 an opportunity to do so.
Related Articles
Now that the Tshwane University of Technology has opened applications for 2025 make sure you read our article on how to apply to TUT for 2025.
