INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ PETITION OF CONCERN

SRC-Postgraduate & International Students Affairs office with University of Pretoria International (UPI) Student Society:

Name & Surname: Lindani Mgoduka

Email address: src.postgrad@tuks.co.za

Cell: 0735123162

Tell: 012 420 6568

Name & Surname: Elma Akob

Email address: akobelma@gmail.com

Cell: 0835385638

We the above-mentioned namesare the acting incumbent of the above departments Submit this Petition of Concern:

Background of petition, due to the current challenges by the current COVID-19 pandemic and the University of Pretoria (UP) online learning and teaching system, it has come to our attention (SRC-Postgraduate & International Students Affairs office and the University of Pretoria International Student Society President) that International students might face financial challenges in the year of 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 has limited any financial income from our parents, legal guardian, and sponsors and thus we predict challenges to tuition and resident payments. Furthermore, online learning and teaching has limited access to the facilities we the students of University of Pretoria pay tuition for, facilities that international students pay double the fees for.

With regards to residential fees, students who have not been using residential facilities are still being charged for these facilities. International students especially those outside of the SADC region already pay twice the amount of an average student’s tuition fee, we do understand the protocols and policies that govern this kind of charge however COVID-19 is a global challenge and thus the University of Pretoria needs to be sensitive to the fact that students could neither foresee nor plan for this pandemic and should be willing to apply change in their policies to ease the financial strain placed on students. We see NSFAS students receiving assistance, and we can only hope for the same for International Students.

This global pandemic which has crippled the economy Worldwide has had severe implications on our finances. Some of our parents have lost their jobs, their source of income, their homes and some even their lives and we appeal to the University to hear our cry and assent to our appeals.

We submit that:

• All International Student tuition fees be adjusted by at least 20/25% from their 2020 initial fees.
• All Tuks Residential fees for the months not operated be excluded or deducted from our students account.
• The University of Pretoria refrains from any tuition and residential fee increment for the 2021 to 2022 financial calendar aimed at International students.
• The University of Pretoria Executives should establish a solidarity fund towards alleviating the tuition credit for International students.
• The University should implement and design a program that will assist and aid International Students who failed their 2020 Academic year due to the online teaching and learning systems.
• The University of Pretoria registrar should allow all financial owing International and Postgraduate students enrolled during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to re-register for the 2021 Academic year.
• All students should be allowed to access their academic transcripts regardless of whether their fees are up to date or not. Students need to be allowed to peruse their exams whether their fees are up to date or not.