Student demands for 10 gigabytes of data a month‚ free sanitary towels‚ transport‚ a library and computer labs to open 24-hours a day‚ and the writing-off of debts will cost the University of the Western Cape (UWC– more than half a billion rands.
UWC has given a detailed response to a list of 40 demands by students‚ but cautioned that they need to be further discussed and debated in order to find creative solutions.
“The cumulative financial impact of meeting the demands is currently approximated R530-million‚” the university said in a statement.
WATCH: ‘Fees Must Fall march might be declared illegal’: Tshwane metro cops
UWC became the first university in the country to close its doors for the rest of the year‚ the Times reported on Thursday. The decision was taken late on Wednesday after “serious consideration of the national situation and the uncertainty around the stability and safety on campus“.
Exams will go ahead and are expected to start on November 7 and continue into January.
Students’ demands were put into four categories – ones with financial implications for the university; issues that required third party interventions; system issues; and national issues the university could not resolve on its own.
The university spelt out the impact of the 40 demands. Here are some of those which have financial implications:
- The cost of replacing student cards – issued free upon registration – was reduced from R140 to R70 at an estimated cost of R140 000 per year.
- Providing a new card for each student for every year of study will cost R1 470 000 per year.
- Clearing of student debt – of approximately R283-million — and payment of registration fees: UWC is “unable to write off student debt without financial support from government”.
- An end to registration fees will amount to R24.2-million.
- Students want 10 gigabytes per student per month. For 18 000 off-campus students it will cost R43.2-million per annum. UWC will ask the City of Cape Town to prioritise wi-fi hotspots in communities where students live and will engage cellphone service providers for assistance.
- A no-fee increase has a potential loss of R60-million to the university.
- Insourcing will cost the university R78-million – an amount that will increase annually.
- Free sanitary towels will cost the university about R6-million per year to buy for 60% of the student population.
- Operating the library and computer labs 24/7 will cost an extra R3-million per year.
- Transport for off-campus students will cost an estimated R15 million a year.
– TMG Digital
R530m – the amount it will cost UWC to meet student demands
Student demands for 10 gigabytes of data a month‚ free sanitary towels‚ transport‚ a library and computer labs to open 24-hours a day‚ and the writing-off of debts will cost the University of the Western Cape (UWC– more than half a billion rands.
UWC has given a detailed response to a list of 40 demands by students‚ but cautioned that they need to be further discussed and debated in order to find creative solutions.
“The cumulative financial impact of meeting the demands is currently approximated R530-million‚” the university said in a statement.
WATCH: ‘Fees Must Fall march might be declared illegal’: Tshwane metro cops
UWC became the first university in the country to close its doors for the rest of the year‚ the Times reported on Thursday. The decision was taken late on Wednesday after “serious consideration of the national situation and the uncertainty around the stability and safety on campus“.
Exams will go ahead and are expected to start on November 7 and continue into January.
Students’ demands were put into four categories – ones with financial implications for the university; issues that required third party interventions; system issues; and national issues the university could not resolve on its own.
The university spelt out the impact of the 40 demands. Here are some of those which have financial implications:
- The cost of replacing student cards – issued free upon registration – was reduced from R140 to R70 at an estimated cost of R140 000 per year.
- Providing a new card for each student for every year of study will cost R1 470 000 per year.
- Clearing of student debt – of approximately R283-million — and payment of registration fees: UWC is “unable to write off student debt without financial support from government”.
- An end to registration fees will amount to R24.2-million.
- Students want 10 gigabytes per student per month. For 18 000 off-campus students it will cost R43.2-million per annum. UWC will ask the City of Cape Town to prioritise wi-fi hotspots in communities where students live and will engage cellphone service providers for assistance.
- A no-fee increase has a potential loss of R60-million to the university.
- Insourcing will cost the university R78-million – an amount that will increase annually.
- Free sanitary towels will cost the university about R6-million per year to buy for 60% of the student population.
- Operating the library and computer labs 24/7 will cost an extra R3-million per year.
- Transport for off-campus students will cost an estimated R15 million a year.
– TMG Digital
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