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Home Affairs, varsities make provisions for foreign students

Source: Kaveel Singh, News24, 29/10/2015

Durban – The government and top tier South African universities have
made provisions for time-constrained international students as exam
dates were pushed back due to the #FeesMustFall campaign.

Following the campaign that saw thousands of higher education students
take to the streets demanding 0% increase in tuition fees for 2016, a
number of university exam dates had to be pushed back.

Foreign national students were likely to suffer the most, with visas
expected to expire before many students could sit for exams.

One such student is Iyare Uwumagbe, who is studying for his masters in
physiotherapy at Wits University. Uwumagbe, a Nigerian national, said
while his visa had not expired, his personal monetary woes were eating
at his resources.

"I was meant to leave the country on Saturday, but I have had to
reschedule my flights, which cost me thousands. There are also other
issues, like my accommodation and the need for more food and
transport," he said.

Esther Buabeng-Baidoo, a chemical engineering masters candidate, said
while she understood and supported #FeesMustFall, her studies were
affected.

"I might only be able to graduate in April next year. The plan was for
December, but I was not able to hand in my thesis because of the
disruptions. I have to say though, I support the campaign. It is for a
great cause and will help all students," she said.
Visas based on study duration
Department of home affairs spokesperson, Thabo Mokgola, said the
government, working within its powers, ensured students would be
permitted to stay in the country because they were given visas based
on the duration of their studies.

"This means that if you are studying for four years, you will be given
a visa for that period of time, plus an additional year. This is how
our study visas work," Mokgola said.

A number of universities throughout the country have attempted to make
provisions for foreign students, including the University of Cape Town
and Wits University.

Speaking to News24, Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said in terms of
their campus accommodations and the student services offered, students
would be catered for. "Regarding other issues that are beyond us,
there is not much we can do."

UCT spokesperson Pat Lucas added that as a consequence of the
university`s closure this week and the #FeesMustFall campaign, the
vice-chancellor had postponed the set of examinations due to start on
Tuesday.

"The October/November exam session will therefore not start next week.
New dates for the start of the exam session will be set in
consultation with staff and students.

"Where a departmentally arranged exam was to have been held at an
earlier date, arrangements will be made for those who did not arrive
for such exams to write/take the exam at a later date.

"The International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) is aware that
some students may not be in the country at the time that the exams
will be set. For this reason, additional arrangements have been made
for them."

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